7th May 2022 -Les James Cup Final Sponsored by Boca Teamwear
Jon Palmer
Little Stoke 2 Ruardean Hill Rangers 0
Little Stoke retained the Les James League Cup with a deserved 2-0 win over Ruardean Hill Rangers in the final at Stonehouse Town.
They lifted the silverware in 2018/19 with a penalty shoot-out triumph over AEK Boco after a goalless draw and the competition has not been completed for the past two seasons due to Covid.
Their victory this time around was rather more straightforward than three years ago, with a goal in each half from Jack Burgess and Jaidon Holver enough to see off the challenge of Ruardean.
Rangers, who finished five places below their opponents in the final Gloucestershire County League standings, were close to opening the scoring after eight minutes.
Steve Clark’s long-range drive hit the right post after a poor clearance from goalkeeper Connolly Jarrett was almost punished.
But Jarrett was not seriously troubled for the rest of the match as Little Stoke looked the more threatening of the sides in front of a healthy Oldends Lane crowd.
Luke Meacham headed wide from a good position before Jude Scott and Alex Hill both saw shots fly the wrong side of the post as pressure began to mount on Aaron Underwood’s goal.
The deadlock was broken two minutes before half-time when a corner was nodded down into the path of defender Burgess, who applied an expert finish low into the net from 10 yards.
Steve Clark, who has 33 goals to his name this season, nearly broke through on goal early in the second half for Ruardean, but Burgess made an excellent challenge in the 64th minute.
And Holver added the second eight minutes later with a deft flick past Underwood from six yards after a dangerous ball in from the left.
A corner from Steve Clark, which clipped the top of the bar, was the closest Rangers were to reducing the deficit.
Little Stoke were well-organised at the back and restricted them to very few chances, allowing them to celebrate their second Les James Cup success.
Little Stoke: C Jarrett, A Fox, E Moore, J Burgess, N Bailey, L Hughes, J Scott, A Hill, A West, L Meacham, J Holver. Subs: P Kourouma, D Lane, H Moore, J Pugsley, J Bright.
Ruardean Hill Rangers: A Underwood, J Beestone, T Coleman, C Mason, R Tingle, D Matthews, F Jones, H Clark, B Walding, L Johnson, S Clark. Subs: G Ferson, J Sladen, S Tingle, S Cornwell-Boote, B Burke.
Referee: Olly Spender. Assistants: Garry Collier, Adam McAnoy. 4th Official: Sam Myatt.
Little Stoke Captain Alex Fox, recieving the Cup from Rob Boyd of Boca Teamwear, Images courtesy Neil Brown (Bristol Soccerworld)
Little Stoke (Black/White) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Neil Brown (Bristol Soccerworld)
Little Stoke (Black/White) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Neil Brown (Bristol Soccerworld)
Little Stoke (Black/White) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Neil Brown (Bristol Soccerworld)
Little Stoke (Black/White) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Neil Brown (Bristol Soccerworld)
Little Stoke (Black/White) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Neil Brown (Bristol Soccerworld)
