Since that day Hungerford have been in bigger games and higher leagues and indeed get bigger crowds at a Tuesday night league game in January than watched this final (192). This win however marked the end of a period of struggle for the club in the late 90s and early 2000s. Hungerford had suffered a relegation and a change in league during that time and were way off the halcyon days of 1980s Vase Semi-finals. Tim North the player manager, bringing some rare league level silverware to the club.

With a team full of Hungerfordians, Shaun Thorp, Simon “Scooter” Cadle, David Leno, Robbie Sadler and North himself the adage of there is “no one from Hungerford playing for Hungerford” was also dismissed. Perhaps after this Hungerford took more interest in its football club.

Hungerford captain on the day Darren Howell scored the opening goal via a through ball from midfield dominating Luke Brewer. A Howell goal was no surprise for Hungerford it was his 27th of the season In typical Hungerford fashion Ardley got the equaliser in stoppage time in the first half after Hungerford gave away a needless corner a header from it gave Hungerford keeper Dave Leno no chance.

Early in the second half Howell’s ball over the top found a penetrating run from Andi "shearer" Philpott. Usually a striker, Philpott had been deployed at left wing back for the afternoon, but he showed the finish of a striker beating the Ardley keeper to the ball and lofting it into the net from 25 yards out. Before the match Philpott had informed all that cared to listen he "always scored on bank holidays", and he was proved right with that memorable goal. It was another cross late on and another headed equaliser for Ardley however that sent the game into extra time.

It was an extra time that Hungerford dominated, Philpott, Howell, Brewer, Shaun Thorp, and Bobby Tong all forcing the keeper into saves. It was however substitute Chris Doyle who proved to be the hero! Doyle latched on to another through ball by Brewer and with fresh legs he broke clear to slot the ball home with only 5 minutes to go. In fact, it turned out to be Doyle’s only goal for the club. Hungerford held out marshalled by Simon Cadle, Dean Flockton and now with Danny Clayton at sweeper at the back, to win the cup!

There were scenes of gentle celebration when Howell lifted the cup from a tired Hungerford playing their 56th game of the season. They’d finished a lowly 17th in the Hellenic Premier League. With the likes of Howell, Philpott and Thorp there were goals in the team, however. The addition of Luke Brewer that season would prove to be a masterstroke he would go on to play a key part in Hungerford’s renaissance in the late 2000s under Alan Clark, who took over the team mid-way through the next season.

Hungerford would go on to win two Hellenic League cups and the Hellenic league title itself before 2010 but it was this game that had proved Hungerford Town could win things again.

The team that day...

David Leno, Dean Flockton, Andi Philpott, Tim North, Simon Cadle, Bobby Tong, Daniel Crawford, Luke Brewer, Shaun Thorp, Darren Howell, Brady Lilley
SUBS Danny ClaytonChris Doyle Robbie Sadler