Chatham Town 2 Hashtag United 1: Velocity Cup Final at Aveley FC, Parkside – Jamie Yila scores the winner
Published: 21:30, 17 April 2024
Updated: 11:53, 23 April 2024
Jamie Yila scored a stoppage-time winner for Chatham Town in the Velocity Cup final against Hashtag United.
Jordy Robins’ goal put Chatham in front at the break and although Luke May-Parrott levelled it up early in the second half, Yila scored in the 93rd minute to clinch the win.
Chatham put their league promotion battle on hold for a cup final against fellow Isthmian Premier side Hashtag United, with the final played at Aveley’s Parkside ground.
There were several chances that Hashtag failed to finish before Robins broke the deadlock at the opposite end.
Max Cornhill shot wide for The Tag while winger Sakariya Hassan fired over when well placed at the far post before putting a header into the arms of Chats’ keeper Mitchel Beeney.
Miguel Scarlett needed to put in a last-gasp challenge to deny the Essex side on the break while Hashtag defender Harry Haysom put in a timely challenge himself to deny Jamie Yila after Rowan Liburd had played him in.
Chatham took their chance when it finally came, with 31 minutes played. Kareem Isiaka could find no way through on the edge of the box but when the ball broke to Robins he fired it in low past Tag keeper Joshua Strizovic.
Hashtag equalised on 51 minutes, breaking from a Chatham corner. Hassan crossed at the second attempt after Reece Butler blocked his first ball into the box, and the ball was nodded back across the goal for May-Parrott to finish.
Beeney had to hold onto a deflected shot from dangerman Hassan but Chats’ Jamie Yila forced a save from Strizovic to win a corner and it was Yila who met Evans’ flag-kick and looked to have scored before a stop on the line by the keeper.
Scarlett had to head off the line as Hassan attempted to curl the ball in from the edge of the box moments after Chats had wasted an opportunity on the break.
Six minutes of additional time was added with the teams remaining level at 1-1.
It was Yila who netted the crucial goal in the third minute of added-on time as he surged towards goal, fended off several challenges and beat the keeper from close range.
Chatham: Beeney, Nelson, Scarlett, Butler, Cooper, Robins, Dunne (Kedwell 90mins), Evans (Sene-Richardson 80mins), Yila (Beckwith 90mins), Isiaka, Liburd (Nzala 67mins). Sub not used: Bridle-Card.
Hashtag: Strizovic, Wooldridge, Smith, Anderson (Aromolaran 90mins), Haysom, Cornhill, Hassan, Carvalho (Restrepo 78mins), Cornish (Teniola 90mins), Kiangebeni (Halford 90mins), May-Parrott. Sub not used: Djemaili.
Attendance: 767
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Luke Cawdell