2011 FA Trophy Final
Encyclopedia
The 2011 FA Trophy
Final was the 42nd final of the Football Association
's cup competition for levels 5–8 of the English football league system
. The match was contested by Mansfield Town
and Darlington
. Neither team had ever reached the F.A trophy final before, and had only recently become eligible for the FA trophy after Mansfield Town
were relegated from League Two
in 2008 and Darlington
were relegated from League Two
in 2010
.
Mansfield Town
defeated Worksop Town
, Newport County
, Alfreton Town
, Chasetown
, and Luton Town
en-route to the Final.
Darlington
defeated Tamworth
, Bath City
, A.F.C. Telford United
, Salisbury City
, and Gateshead
en-route to the final.
Darlington
won 1–0 in extra time, after the match had ended in a 0–0 draw. The goal was scored by Chris Senior
in the 119th minute, seconds before the match was due to end in a Penalty Shootout.
Wembley Stadium
. Darlington
defeated Mansfield Town
1–0 after extra time, thanks to a goal from striker Chris Senior
. This was the first time that Darlington had scored at Wembley in three visits to the national stadium.
The game was a particularly even affair with both sides carving out early chances. Darlington goalkeeper Sam Russell had to be alert early on to clear an Adam Murray
pass which had sent Duncan Russell clean through on goal. At the other end, Alan Marriott
did well to punch away a corner from Aaron Brown
before Liam Hatch
could get his head on it. In the 18th minute, a Mansfield corner was met by the head of former Darlington captain Steve Foster
, but the ball sailed well over the bar. On 32 minutes, Gary Smith broke into the Mansfield, where he appeared to be brought down by Louis Briscoe
. Referee Stuart Attwell, who was well placed, waved away the penalty appeals. Darlington suffered a blow on 38 minutes when Smith, who had been lively in midfield, limped off to be replaced by Aman Verma. The first half of the match concluded with the score at 0–0.
Despite Darlington dominating the opening exchanges of the second half, Mansfield created an excellent chance when Briscoe took on two players from the right and his cross-shot was deflected just over the bar by his team-mate Paul Connor
. After 58 minutes Darlington had an excellent chance to take the lead. John Campbell broke clear down the left hand side of the pitch and cossed low for Tommy Wright; the striker took too long, however, and Mansfield were able to clear for a corner. Both sides traded attacks, none of which came to much, before Darlington were awarded an 89th minute free-kick 25 yards out, following an unfair challenge on Verma. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson
took the free-kick, which clattered against Marriot's right hand post, with the Mansfield 'keeper well beaten.
In the dying seconds of normal time, Bridge-Wilkinson crossed into the box where Wright headed wide with a diving attempt. When the whistle blew for the end of normal time, the match remained at 0–0.
Both teams created chances, during an extra time period marked by both teams increasing fatigue. During extra-time, Darlington replaced Bridge-Wilkinson with Paul Terry
, while Mansfield brought on Danny Mitchley
for Murray. During a fraught final period of extra time Mansfield threatened when Ashley Cain's cross reached the far post where Connor headed narrowly over the bar. Then, eight minutes from time, Chris Moore
forced a Darlington corner. Brown took it and Wright headed against the post, before Ian Miller forced a fine save from Marriot.
As a penalty shoot-out loomed over the match, Darlington created one last chance. In the 119th minute, an Aaron Brown long throw found Wright, who got to the ball ahead of Marriot to send a looping header towards the Mansfield goal. The ball hit the bar before falling to Chris Senior
who headed into the roof of the net to send the Darlington fans into raptures and secure an FA Trophy final victory for Darlington.
2010–11 FA Trophy
The 2010–11 FA Trophy is the 41st season of the FA Trophy, the Football Association's cup competition for teams at levels 5–8 of the English football league system. A total of 266 clubs have entered the competition...
Final was the 42nd final of the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
's cup competition for levels 5–8 of the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
. The match was contested by Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
and Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
. Neither team had ever reached the F.A trophy final before, and had only recently become eligible for the FA trophy after Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
were relegated from League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
in 2008 and Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
were relegated from League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
in 2010
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
.
Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
defeated Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
, Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
, Chasetown
Chasetown F.C.
Chasetown Football Club is an English football club based in the Chasetown area of Burntwood, Staffordshire. The club currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and is nicknamed The Scholars, having been formed by affiliates of nearby Chase Terrace High School in the Chase...
, and Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
en-route to the Final.
Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
defeated Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
, Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
, A.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
, Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
, and Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
en-route to the final.
Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
won 1–0 in extra time, after the match had ended in a 0–0 draw. The goal was scored by Chris Senior
Chris Senior
Christopher Marc 'Chris' Senior is an English footballer who plays for Alfreton Town as a striker.-Career:Senior started his professional youth team footballing career at Sheffield United at 19. He stayed for one season before 'The Blades' released him, though the Yorkshire-based club recommended...
in the 119th minute, seconds before the match was due to end in a Penalty Shootout.
Mansfield Town
Full article: 2010–11 Mansfield Town F.C. season2010–11 Mansfield Town F.C. season
The 2010–2011 Season of Mansfield Town F.C. was its third in the Conference National, following their relegation after the 2007–08 season. The season saw a protracted financial dispute between the club and their former owner, Keith Haslam, who had sold the club in 2008 but retained ownership of the...
Darlington
Full article: 2010–11 Darlington F.C. season2010–11 Darlington F.C. season
The 2010–11 season is Darlington Football Clubs 82nd season of professional football, and the first outside of the Football League since 1989–90.-Squad:-Conference National:...
Summary
The final was played on 7 May 2011 at London'sLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
defeated Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
1–0 after extra time, thanks to a goal from striker Chris Senior
Chris Senior
Christopher Marc 'Chris' Senior is an English footballer who plays for Alfreton Town as a striker.-Career:Senior started his professional youth team footballing career at Sheffield United at 19. He stayed for one season before 'The Blades' released him, though the Yorkshire-based club recommended...
. This was the first time that Darlington had scored at Wembley in three visits to the national stadium.
The game was a particularly even affair with both sides carving out early chances. Darlington goalkeeper Sam Russell had to be alert early on to clear an Adam Murray
Adam Murray
-External links:*...
pass which had sent Duncan Russell clean through on goal. At the other end, Alan Marriott
Alan Marriott
Alan Marriott is an English footballer, currently playing for Mansfield Town-Early career:Marriott began his career at Tottenham Hotspur, signing a professional contract in the summer of 1997 following the completion of his two-year youth training scheme.Released by Spurs at the completion of the...
did well to punch away a corner from Aaron Brown
Aaron Brown
Aaron Brown is an American broadcast journalist most recognized for his coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks, his first day on air at CNN...
before Liam Hatch
Liam Hatch
Liam Morris Adam Hatch is an English footballer who plays for Darlington as a striker.-Early career:Born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Hatch started his career with Kent League side Ramsgate, before joining Herne Bay in 2001 and moving to Gravesend & Northfleet in 2001...
could get his head on it. In the 18th minute, a Mansfield corner was met by the head of former Darlington captain Steve Foster
Steve Foster (footballer born 1974)
Stephen "Steve" Foster is a professional footballer, currently playing for Spennymoor Town.- Career :Foster, who is the son of former Mansfield Town defender Colin Foster, began his career at Mansfield Town, where he made a handful of appearances before being released by the club...
, but the ball sailed well over the bar. On 32 minutes, Gary Smith broke into the Mansfield, where he appeared to be brought down by Louis Briscoe
Louis Briscoe
Louis Andrew Briscoe is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Mansfield Town. His playing position is either as a Striker or on the right or left wing....
. Referee Stuart Attwell, who was well placed, waved away the penalty appeals. Darlington suffered a blow on 38 minutes when Smith, who had been lively in midfield, limped off to be replaced by Aman Verma. The first half of the match concluded with the score at 0–0.
Despite Darlington dominating the opening exchanges of the second half, Mansfield created an excellent chance when Briscoe took on two players from the right and his cross-shot was deflected just over the bar by his team-mate Paul Connor
Paul Connor (footballer)
Paul Connor is an English footballer who is currently playing for Gainsborough Trinity.-Career:He was signed by Middlesbrough straight after he left school...
. After 58 minutes Darlington had an excellent chance to take the lead. John Campbell broke clear down the left hand side of the pitch and cossed low for Tommy Wright; the striker took too long, however, and Mansfield were able to clear for a corner. Both sides traded attacks, none of which came to much, before Darlington were awarded an 89th minute free-kick 25 yards out, following an unfair challenge on Verma. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability....
took the free-kick, which clattered against Marriot's right hand post, with the Mansfield 'keeper well beaten.
In the dying seconds of normal time, Bridge-Wilkinson crossed into the box where Wright headed wide with a diving attempt. When the whistle blew for the end of normal time, the match remained at 0–0.
Both teams created chances, during an extra time period marked by both teams increasing fatigue. During extra-time, Darlington replaced Bridge-Wilkinson with Paul Terry
Paul Terry (footballer)
Paul Laurence Terry is an English footballer who plays for Conference South club Thurrock as a midfielder. He made 206 appearances in the Football League for Yeovil Town and Leyton Orient between 2003 and 2009.-Club career:...
, while Mansfield brought on Danny Mitchley
Danny Mitchley
Daniel "Danny" Mitchley is an English footballer who plays as a forward.-From youth team to first team at Blackpool:Born in Liverpool, Mitchley played at Skelmersdale United until he was 15 years old...
for Murray. During a fraught final period of extra time Mansfield threatened when Ashley Cain's cross reached the far post where Connor headed narrowly over the bar. Then, eight minutes from time, Chris Moore
Chris Moore (English footballer)
James Christopher "Chris" Moore is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Gateshead. He plays as a winger....
forced a Darlington corner. Brown took it and Wright headed against the post, before Ian Miller forced a fine save from Marriot.
As a penalty shoot-out loomed over the match, Darlington created one last chance. In the 119th minute, an Aaron Brown long throw found Wright, who got to the ball ahead of Marriot to send a looping header towards the Mansfield goal. The ball hit the bar before falling to Chris Senior
Chris Senior
Christopher Marc 'Chris' Senior is an English footballer who plays for Alfreton Town as a striker.-Career:Senior started his professional youth team footballing career at Sheffield United at 19. He stayed for one season before 'The Blades' released him, though the Yorkshire-based club recommended...
who headed into the roof of the net to send the Darlington fans into raptures and secure an FA Trophy final victory for Darlington.
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