Sherfield Town celebrate beating Hackney Wednesday

SELF-PROCLAIMED “underdogs” Sherfield Town stunned rivals Hackney Wednesday with a goal-fest victory at the weekend to lift the Michael McElligott Challenge Cup in the Camden Sunday League.

The star of the show for the Islington-based club was hotshot striker Reniq Senior who lit up the Hackney Marsh South show pitch with a memorable hat-trick.

“I’m very proud of myself for helping the team get the win with my three goals,” the 20-year-old said after the game.

“I’m proud of everyone, to be honest, because this is some people’s first cup – it’s my first cup as well, so yeah, I’m just happy.

“We played against this team in the league and they beat us 5-2, so I thought it would be a lot harder today, but we just had to play our football and do what we do. We were the better team and deserved the win.”

Sherfield scored three goals in quick succession towards the end of the first half to gain a grip on the final that they would never relinquish.

Jayden Brown opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a world-class finish from 25 yards.

Senior then struck twice in as many minutes: heading home his first from close range, before coolly making it 3-0 after a long punt downfield by Sherfield keeper Dave Elliot.

Wednesday, who have already hit our headlines this season after winning the Frank Sheridan Senior Invitation Cup, reduced the deficit through Rob Lupton, but it was a little too late to inspire a comeback.

Reniq Senior hit a brilliant treble to inspire the victory

Instead it was the Sherfield supporters cheering again when Senior completed his hat-trick with the last kick of the game to wrap up a dominant 4-1 victory.

Delighted Sherfield head coach Keith Camacho said: “The game went how we planned it. We started fast and pressed them high.
“In the second half we faded a little but we kept our shape.

“I know what my players can do and because of that I was confident going into the game.

“We’ve been on a good run – we haven’t lost a league game since November – so I knew we could get the win.

“I want the players to be proud of themselves. My job is to guide them, and their job is to do the business – and they’ve more than done the business today.

“To beat a good team like we did shows where we’re at this season.

“Next season we will be going for everything.”

Club captain Charlie Rose added: “Overall I’m very happy with the performance. We were underdogs going into this game. I think Hackney Wednesday are a really good team, but today we deserved the win.

“I think if we stay consistent next year then we will be able to challenge for the league – that’s what we’re hoping to do.”

Wednesday will look to get revenge and go top of Division 1 when the two sides face each other again in the league this weekend. Reflecting on the cup final defeat, player-manager

Lupton didn’t take too much consolation in his goal as he admitted that “it just wasn’t our day”.

He added: “Sherfield were much the better team. They are a very good young team and they were very clinical with their chances.

“I’m proud of the way we battled in the second half but we’d left ourselves a mountain to climb.”