Marquis 4-1 Palmers (Essex Sunday Junior Cup Final)

Written by Chris Hood in Local sport👁 2,881

Tuesday 10 April 2018, 5.25pm

Chris Evans reports…

Marquis 4-1 Palmers, Sunday 8th April 2018, The Meadow, Kick-Off 10:30am, Essex Sunday Junior Cup Final.

A brace inside the opening 15 minutes from David Lorimer set Marquis en route to Essex Sunday Junior Cup victory, with strikes from Jamie Guy and Liam Bailey sealing a 4-1 win over Palmers who pulled a late goal back through Asa Lawrence.

Colchester & District Sunday League Division One side Marquis lifted the Junior Cup in just their third season as YouTube sensations Palmers, from the Thurrock Association Sunday League, were defeated in Saffron Walden. With over 212,000 subscribers to their online channel, Palmers are making waves both nationally and internationally in Sunday football, but they were undone by a fast start from Marquis in both sides’ first County Cup final.

“That’s history!” proclaimed beaming Marquis boss Paul Bugg who couldn’t praise his side enough after the game. “When you win a County Cup that’s history and we have two other cups to try and win, which we want to win. I’ve only been here six months and there’s belief and desire and they’re all good mates. That’s what they’re all about.”

“Two early goals from David Lorimer really put us in command of the game, but I’m just over the moon. It’s just unbelievable. To see this team achieve what they’ve achieved in so little time is quite astonishing. They’re all good mates on the pitch and good friends off the pitch and this is the culmination of all that hard work.”

With ex-professionals Jamie Guy and Kevin McLeod among the Marquis ranks, Bugg’s says his side can certainly call on some expertise: “Jamie used to play with me when I had Botolphs a few years back and many of the lads here have played together before. Obviously to have their experience on the pitch is crucial and I think today, from the off, we just looked like we were the better side.”

“I think basically today we had a little bit too much up top for them, and every time we got beyond them we looked like scoring. They’re obviously a very good team. They’ve got to the final of the Essex Junior Cup and there were hundreds of teams in it. Palmers put a hell of an effort in and, even at 4-0 down, they showed that desire and scored a consolation. To be fair they did the best they could.”

The quick start Bugg alluded to saw Lorimer sprint clear and lob a finish past Palmers goalkeeper Garron Price on just 3 minutes. That lead was doubled with 14 played when Lorimer rifled a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner. A chance for Marquis’ Guy saw the forward get through on goal only to be denied by a good block from Price and, minutes later, Marquis hit the post. Lorimer came inches from a first-half hat-trick.

Guy’s fierce shot deflected just wide in first-half stoppage time but, just four minutes into the second period, he scored his side’s third as he headed in a left-wing cross. Palmers’ Lee Atkinson then watched his shot well saved by Marquis’ Glen Morrison before Marquis added a fourth on 74 minutes. Bailey smashed a thunderbolt in off the underside of the bar from distance.

But Palmers kept going. Connor White’s zipping effort along the floor flew just wide and, with two minutes remaining, they pulled one back through a good Lawrence finish. Marquis weren’t to be denied, however, as they were left to celebrate Junior Cup success.

Marquis: Glen Morrison, Ryan Brady, Ryan Minter, Nathan English, Daniel Bugg, Stewart Tomkinson, Liam Bailey, Craig Minter, David Lorimer, Kevin McLeod, Jamie Guy. Substitutes (repeated): Robin Miller, Sean Catney, Alex Young, Daniel Martin, Adam Jennings.

Palmers: Garron Price, Tony Connor, Dan Smith, Lee Atkinson, Aaron Knowles, Luke Grayson, Elliot Gresham, Josh Knowles, Lee Henry, Lewis Francis, Nick Horne. Substitutes (repeated): Graham Hazelwood, Asa Lawrence, Shane Garrett, Richard Hunt, Connor White.