​Bedworth United and Stourbridge met on Saturday in this season’s Challenge Bowl final at the Oval. 

Both sides had successful seasons competing in the U21s South Division with Stourbridge winning the league and Bedworth finishing in 4th. 

Bedworth were going into the final as underdogs and finished the league season twelve points behind Stourbridge. None the less, the Greenbacks have been competitive at this level with nine wins from sixteen league matches under manager David Dainty. They caused an upset in the semi-final and beat North Division champions Brocton 5-3 to reach Saturday’s final.

Their home form in the Challenge Bowl has been impressive with an unbeaten record going into the game against Stourbridge.

They also had one of the better defensive records in the division with only 21 goals conceded which would have raised hopes of an upset.

Stourbridge have been brilliant at U21s level this season and have been one of the form teams across the season. They finished the league season as U21s south division champion and beat Brocton 3-2 in the U21s championship play off final a few weeks back. They beat Bromsgrove Rovers 4-2 last Wednesday in the semi finals to reach the final.

The Glassboys have impressed this season under manager Mark Lester and won thirteen of their sixteen league matches. They also had the best attacking record in the division with 72 goals scored in the league with the likes of Daniel Yeboah impressing up front.

The head-to-head record favoured Stourbridge 2-0, but anything can happen in a one-off cup final and Bedworth were a side in form going into it. 

​Starting line ups

Bedworth’s starting line up included Connor Hill starting in goal and captaining the team. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Reece Middleton playing up front and being supported by Aadam Hayles and Luke Curtlin on the wings.

There was one change from their semi final match against Brocton with Reece Middleton coming into the team and replacing Tom Stenton up front. 

Stourbridge’s starting line up included Edward Solly starting in goal and Yussif Rufayi captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 3-5-2 with a front two of Daniel Yeboah and Kelvin Adam being supported by Kobi Love in the number ten role.

There were five changes from their semi final match against Bromsgrove Sporting with George Hartill coming into the team and playing as part of a back three.   

First Half

The first half was scrappy with not that much happening in front of goal. Both teams were cancelling each other out and looked well organised off the ball.

Full credit to Bedworth for staying in the match and not letting the final get away from them against one of the best attacks in the division. They were constantly tracking back with Daniel Makitadi impressing at centre back and reading the danger well. Miles Newton was also helping to break up attacks from holding midfield and did a good job of shielding the defence.  

​Stourbridge had a lot of the ball but were struggling to find a way through a well organised Bedworth defence. They were building up the play well but lacked that final ball into the box.  

Kelvin Adam looked a threat and made a couple of promising runs into the box throughout the first half. He had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when he raced into the box before putting an effort marginally wide of the right-hand post in the 33rd minute. 

Bedworth offered a threat on the counterattack with Reece Middleton impressing up front and helping to hold up the play.

​The Greenbacks put some good balls into the box with Cameron West getting into some dangerous positions in the final third. 

Stourbridge were alert at the back to keep it at 0-0 going into half time. Yussif Rufayi was defending well and leading by example as captain.

Second Half

The match came into life in the opening stages of the second half with Stourbridge scoring straight from kick off. A defensive mix up at the back allowed Kelvin Adam through on goal who made no mistake and finished into the bottom left corner for 1-0.

Bedworth showed character following the goal and were committing players forward in search of an equaliser. They managed to find the breakthrough on 48 minutes when a good diagonal ball found Luke Curtlin at the back post. He kept his composure before finishing into the top right corner for 1-1.

The match felt a lot more stretched in comparison to the first half with both sides going for it.

​Stourbridge scored a few minutes after the equaliser to re-take the lead. The Glassboys were given a free kick from the left-hand side. A quality delivery from Kobi Love to the back post found Daniel Yeboah who headed into the bottom left corner for 2-1.  

The chances in front of goal kept coming in a frantic five-minute spell to start the second half. Bedworth had a brilliant chance to make it 2-2 when Reece Middleton made a well-timed run into the final third. He went through on goal before having a shot well saved by Edward Solly to keep it at 2-1.   

Stourbridge had a huge chance to make it 3-1 on the hour mark. A brilliant delivery into the box found George Hartill who created some space before putting his header over the bar.

​Kelvin Adam also had a good chance where he beat a few players before having a shot saved by Connor Hill with twenty minutes to go. 

The Glassboys looked assured at the back for spells of the second half with George Hartill reading the danger well on the right of a back three and helping to clear the ball away.

Bedworth kept going in search of an equaliser and were still looking to make things happen with fifteen minutes to go. David Dainty made some good changes and bought on Fallou Seck to offer some pace up front. The substitution worked wonders a few minutes later.

Following a couple of shots on goal, Fallou Seck was on hand to follow up on the rebound and finished into the top left corner for 2-2. It was a brilliant goal and gave Bedworth the momentum in the final ten minutes.   

​The Greenbacks kept focused at the back with Louis Xisto impressing at right back to not allow Stourbridge a route back into it. The work rate off the ball from Bedworth was non stop on Saturday with players tracking back to give themselves a chance of an upset.

Fallou Seck found some space in the box late on. He got a shot off that was tipped round the post by Edward Solly for a corner going into stoppage time.

Bedworth committed players forward for the corner and managed to cause chaos in the Stourbridge box. They managed to get the ball over the line to spark jubilant scenes in the home end.

The Warwickshire side managed to see the game out late on to lift the challenge bowl on a memorable day for the club.

Full Time

Saturday was a brilliant occasion for the U21s section of Bedworth and one that will live long in the memory of the players and supporters. Credit to the players and coaching staff for not giving up in the second half and producing a comeback late on to win it.

The win makes it six consecutive wins in the Challenge Bowl this season for Bedworth who lift the cup having beaten the likes of Stourbridge, Brocton and Bilston to win it.

Stourbridge will feel gutted to miss out on the Challenge Bowl, but they should feel proud of their season overall. To win the south division and win the championship play off final is an impressive achievement. They came close to doing the U21s treble but just fell short against Bedworth on Saturday.    

The day belonged to the Greenbacks who have a bright future at U21s level, and they finish the season on a high.      

FT score: Bedworth United U21s 3-2 Stourbridge U21s

Man of the match: Daniel Makitadi (Bedworth United)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League