Chigwell Veterans Manager John Young claimed his team’s Essex Veterans Trophy Final success was “beyond my wildest dreams” as two goals from David Oliver and a Jarek Szlarczyk opener saw them defeat Harold Hill at Concord Rangers FC.

Szlarczyk earned Chigwell a 3rd-minute lead to set the tone for a first half where Oliver’s double on 10 and 23 minutes gave Hill a mountain to climb. Kevin Marsden pulled a goal back ten minutes after the interval, but some resolute defending enabled Young to celebrate at full time.

“I’ve played football for 30-odd years. I’ve never played in the County Cup Final,” he reacted. “I can’t tell you how proud I am to be the manager of this side and to lead us to victory. We’ve left everything out on the pitch today. I’m just speechless, as you can hear from my voice!”

Chigwell took the lead when Szlarczyk latched onto a loose backpass with acres of space and then carved low into the net. And Harold Hill were left stunned seven minutes later as Oliver took advantage of some hesitant defending and side-footed around goalkeeper Grant Lee from ten yards.

Harold Hill sought an urgent way back into the game, and a couple of stepovers from Jamie Hooker mid-way through the half were followed-up by a shot across the face of goal from a tight angle. Shortly afterwards, Chigwell ‘keeper Gareth Vaughan produced an incredible save. Hill thought they’d scored when the ball was prodded towards the bottom corner at the far post, but Vaughan brilliantly clawed it back out.

To rub salt into Hill’s wounds, Oliver made it three a minute later. Just like with the second goal, Chigwell broke quickly from defending at the other end. Oliver sprinted through, shooting across ‘keeper Lee and watching the ball creep over the goal line off the far post.

On 33 minutes, gloveman Vaughan was at it again with an impressive, diving intervention to block Casca Hoy’s goalbound header following some build-up down the left. The custodian’s role in his team’s victory could not be overstated, and team mate Kevin Griffiths then went in search of a 35th-minute fourth when his attempt from distance flew narrowly wide.

Some great finishing from Young’s team found them 3-0 up at half time, and he believes that lead was well-deserved: “I think we made every chance we had count. Jarek scored the first goal - he’s been phenomenal all season. Opportunism, basically a mistake from them. A killer finish.”

“Superb. And then ‘Oli’, who’s literally been struggling all season with injuries. But, for the big games, he just turns up. The 45 minutes he gave us were exceptional. His two finishes were sublime and I couldn’t have asked any more. And, obviously, going 3-0-up at half time, there’s a bit of confidence in the dressing room.”

Harold Hill had no option but to emerge from half time with even greater attacking emphasis, and David Bastian whistled at goal from distance in the 51st minute, forcing Vaughan to guide the ball over the Chigwell crossbar. Then a breakthrough was made, and Hill got right back into the game. Marsden was free at the far post to head home a looping cross.

However, other than a handful of half-chances, the required pressure didn’t start arriving until the 82nd minute, Hooker’s free kick being knocked away from goal by the legs of the Chigwell ‘keeper. Then, from the resulting corner, the ball was headed onto the top of the crossbar.

Harold Hill weren’t done just yet, though they missed a glorious chance to reduce the deficit further a minute from time as Wayne Gittens dragged the ball into the danger zone and Hooker poked high and wide. Hill’s goal just after half time will have made Chigwell at least slightly nervy as they’d remained in the game for a long time, despite being behind.

But Young was able to summarise: “I think they dominated a lot of the possession. They had a few chances, which they probably didn’t take. Our goalkeeper made some good saves. And then, when they scored that goal, we had to have a little bit of a shuffle-up, and had a serious injury to our captain. But, fortunately, the team adapted.”

“We got some substitutions and we just battled. We fought to the end. We’re like a proper family, both the 35s and the 45s. And, to be honest with you, it will be a real, real good party. Just got to put it in the diary! I think we probably may wait until the end of the season. But it will be long in the memory of what we’ve achieved tonight.”

Chigwell Veterans: Gareth Vaughan, Paul Dixon, Sidney Ward, Terry Budge, Alan Hollowell, Kevin Griffiths, Nikolay Avramov, Jarek Szlarczyk, Wade Bailey, Daniel Cressey, David Oliver. Substitutes: John Young, Ainsley Wood, Danny Henwood, Glenn Whinney, Artur Leboszka. Manager: John Young.

Harold Hill: Grant Lee, Danny Cooley, Basil Bagunaid, Gary Howard, Troy Barham, Daniel Happe, Jamie Hooker, David Bastian, Kevin Marsden, Darren Morley, Casca Hoy. Substitutes: Wayne Gittens, Andy Grant, Trevor Paul, Richard Bastian, Barry Pope. Player-Manager: Kevin King.

Referee: Neil Bates.

Assistant Referees: Stephen Margiotta and Toby Bates.

Fourth Official: Stephen Everitt.

Attendance: 145.