LONDON SENIOR CUP FINAL (KO 7.45 PM)

Champion Hill plays host tonight as underdogs Cray Valley Paper Mills look to add the Met Police to their list of impessive scalps.

A host of famous names from the old amateur game adorn the prestigious trophy that is the London Senior Cup with Dulwich Hamlet appearing five times alongside the likes of Leyton, Ilford, Leytonstone, Wimbledon and Walthamstow amongst others. Oh and back in 1891 a fledgling South London club by the name of Royal Arsenal lifted the Senior for the only time in their history with a resounding 6-0 drubbing of St Bartholomew's Hospital. Rumours that the more unsporting victorious fan regaled the opposition players with cries of “Physician heal thyself”, remain unproven to this day.

Tonight there is a chance for a new name to be added to the roll of honour with Cray Valley looking to claim their first ever Senior trophy after reaching the semifinals of this competition on a regular basis in recent season. By contrast the Met Police will be contesting their fifth final of competition, though so far they have just the one victory to their name. The Boys in Blue reached their first final back when the first flames of global conflagration were about to erupt across the globe.It was 1935 when the Met faced Enfield but the E’s proved too strong for them emerging victorious by 2 goals to nil. London may have been under the cosh of the Bosche in 1941, the blitz leaving the city ablaze but football continued, Barnet this time conquerors of the Police 2-1. Nearly 60 years would pass before the Police had a chance to make amends when, with the club starting to put aside years of tradition as non serving officers took the field, they faced AFC Wimbledon in an incredible game at Harrow Borough. For 120 minutes the pendulum swung wildly but after all the dust had settled the sides remained deadlocked at 4 a peice. Penalties eventually separated the protagonists as the Met celebrated success, 5-3 on spot kicks. It marked the start of purple patch for the Police as they pipped Bognor Regis Town to the Ryman South title the following year. Four seasons later the Wombles would have their revenge as they recorded a 2-1 win in the final.

Whilst the Met Police run to the final provided few shocks, a 2-1 win at home to Beckenham Town, followed by a single goal victory over Hendon, a quarter final 2-1 win away to wingate & Finchley before Haringey Borough were dispatched 3-2 at Imber Court, Cray Valley PM’s have left a trail of bloodied bodies and broken dreams. After Croydon FC scratched from the competition at the first round stage, the Millers made the short trip from Eltham to Welling. The Wings’ ranks may have been shorn of some of the big names but still a strong side was ranged against the underdogs, only for their ankles to be bitten as Cray Valley romped to a deserved 3-1 win. They then added the young scalps of a tyro AFC Wimbledon side, a late winner complemented by an outstanding display between the sticks from eccentric teenage custodian Jordan Carey who kept out a penalty. The semi final saw the Millers entertain Dulwich Hamlet and with Gavin Rose’s men 2 up inside the first half hour thanks to goals from Dumebi Dumaka and Dipo Akinyemi the ite looked sealed. However there was fight left in the Millers and with just 11 minutes left they narrowed the gap through Taylor McDonagh before Ben Francis found the net with 6 minutes left to send the tie into extra time. The Hamlet were on the ropes now and three minutes into extra time Aaron Rhule capitalised on a blocked shot to fire Cray Valley ahead for the first time. A Dulwich deluge in the latter stages finaled to break through the home rearguard and the Millers booked their maiden London Senior Cup final appearance.

Tickets can be purchased on the turnstiles and are priced at £10 for adults (£5 for concessions). The game is being held at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, London SE22 8BD.