Three days after their 1-1 draw in the league, Corby Pegasus and Wootton St George met in on what would prove to be an historic night for both clubs. Neither side had reached the final of the Area Cup before, so a new name was guaranteed to be engraved on the trophy. While Wootton were looking to claim their second trophy in the space of a week, Pegasus were looking to claim their first ever piece of county silverware on their maiden appearance in an NFA Final.

Wootton began the game in much the same way as their league cup final win over Stanion, allowing their opponents a large share of the possession, inviting their attacks and seemingly soaking up the pressure. A case of déjà vu could be forgiven as Wootton very nearly took the lead with their first meaningful attack. Chris Gale showed the Pegasus defence a clean pair of heels for the first of many times on the night, and was unlucky to see his near post shot blocked by Pegasus ‘keeper Hugo Fernandes.

 With a quarter of an hour on the clock Pegasus were able to register their first, and only real threat to the Wootton goal in the first half. Steve McCabe was tripped outside the penalty area and Rob Allan stepped up to take the resulting free kick. Opting for flight over power, Allan was unlucky not to open the scoring for his side, as opposition ‘keeper Ash Day backpedalled frantically to turn the rapidly dipping effort over the bar.

Shortly before the half hour Gale had two opportunities to send his side ahead. When his initial shot was blocked and then spilled by Fernandes, he reacted quickest, but could only fire straight at the prone ‘keeper. Strike partner Micky Ryan collected the second rebound before slamming the ball against the post and out.

Ryan made amends four minutes before the break, however picking up on a sublime through ball from Ashley Gale. Gale’s ball carved a furrow through the defence, taking three defenders out of the game completely. Ryan collected the ball inside the area and made no mistake with his effort to give his side the advantage heading into the half-time recess.

Wootton’s lead was to last less than nine minutes however, as the game entered a crazy stage, punctuated by critical individual mistakes that proved costly to both sides. Pegasus won a corner on the left hand side, but the ball lacked pace and threat being played too close to the goalkeeper. Day however flubbed what should have been a routine catch, dropping the ball over the back of his head, where McCabe displayed the poacher’s instinct to stoop and head home before the ball touched the ground.

The equaliser did not prevent Pegasus from pressing their own self-destruct button. Within minutes the offside trap failed in spectacular fashion as the defenders attempted to counter the pace of the Wootton forwards with a high line. The defenders stepped up and suicidally stopped with their hands in the air appealing for the offside, little realising that one of their number had lagged behind on the move, playing Ryan onside. His pass picked out Chris Gale who saw his double effort blocked again by Fernandes.

Two minutes later, the defence were once again the architects of their own downfall.  Ryan was forced out wide towards the touchline, and out of desperation hit a weak and hopeful cross into the area. Confusion reigned in the area with neither defenders of ‘keeper seemingly willing to claim the ball, and Glen Harris inexplicably flicked the ball past Fernandes to put into his own net.

Dumbfounded, Pegasus spent the next half hour unable to fashion the chance to force a second equaliser, with substitute Ashley Duffy coming closest hitting the rear stanchion behind the goal. Ryan and Gale should have wrapped up the win with a neat passing move five minutes from time, but the end product was lacking as the ball drifted wide.

Stoppage time again proved a crazy period, as Pegasus finally punished Wootton’s profligacy in front of goal, when Duffy equalised with another header to tie the game. Immediately from the restart, Chris Gale surged forward and rounded Fernandes. With the goal at his mercy and the tie at his feet, he inexplicably hit the outside of the post to see the game move into extra time.

Extra time produced few chances for either side with Pegasus forcing Wootton onto the back foot for long periods, while failing to create a clear-cut chance.

In the end penalties decided the destination of the trophy. Fernandes and Duffy were the Pegasus heroes with their respective contributions. Fernandes saved the first penalty, before Wootton struck the bar with their second kick. With both sides scoring subsequent kicks, Duffy stepped up with the chance to win the trophy, and did so with aplomb, coolly firing home, to ensure the Area Cup stayed in Corby for another season.