2015: Ex Lats 1-2 Ex Mancs
Holmes - Galvin, O.G.
Saturday 13th June 2015, Hackney Marshes
Referee - Mr Colin Jarvis
Referee - Mr Colin Jarvis
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Ex Lats Lineup
1. Scott Mohan 2. Jack Scott 3. Daniel Layrea 4. Tom Cullum 5. Mo Taguri 6. Laurence Pinn 7. James Snowdon 8. Jack Llewelyn 9. Reuben Holmes 10. Max Quelch-Woolls (C) 11. Jamie Sprunt 
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Ex Mancs Lineup
1. Steve Endo 2. Patrick Browne 3. Freddie Kirchner 4. Kenny Mitchell 5. Oliver Warner 6. Will Jones 7. Joe Ashton 8. Ed Galvin (C) 9. Jon Bugeja 10. Greg Worley 11. James Ponsford 12. James Gibbons 13. James Bearne 14. Dave Williams 
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After a tense, tight affair in 2014, the Ex Mancs managed to claim the win on penalties to level the series at 2-2. With the armband back on Ed Galvin the Ex Mancs looked a resurgent force, while the Ex Lats seemed to be increasingly plagued by injures as age started to take its toll. For both teams though, the stakes couldn't be higher. With two victories each, both sides were looking to take control of the series and claim their 3rd Ex Lats vs Ex Mancs title.
The Ex Mancs triumphed in 2014 with what some thought was a weakened side and went into this match with further losses to key players as both Joe Thorne and Gazz Jones were unavailable. They found strength in depth though and boasted a squad of 14, the strongest to date of any Ex Lats or Ex Mancs side, with debuts finally handed to Joe Ashton, Greg Worley and Dave Williams, while Steve Endo and Kenny Mitchell were also drafted in.
The Ex Lats, on the other hand, headed the into the match with a severely weakened squad with key midfielder Thomas Mikkelsen out with a long term injury and numerous other players unavailable. Scott Mohan made a timely recovery from a broken ankle but was only able to play in goal, meaning a first outfield appearance for regular keeper Dan Layrea. The Ex Lats drafted in Mo Taguri, James Snowdon and Jack Llewelyn for their first ever games.
In what was expected to be a close encounter, similar to that of the previous year, a good start was crucial for both sides. The Ex Lats started in the worst possible fashion by failing to get 11 men on the pitch for kick off. It would be 40 minutes before the 11th man arrived so the Ex Lats had to make up for their numerical deficiency with sheer determination and hard work. If anything it galvanised them and they had the better of a physical first period. The 10 men duly took the lead when Reuben Holmes latched on to James Snowdon's through pass to calmly slide into the corner for 1-0. The Ex Lats were a man up at the break and no longer a man down.
At the start of the second period, the Ex Lats, now with their full complement of players, were seemingly in the ascendancy. However, the energy expended in the opening 45 minutes started to wear on the side and the Ex Mancs began to take control of the game. An equaliser was found as the Ex Lats defence failed to clear a looping cross, allowing Galvin to pounce for the equaliser. That goal meaning that the Ex Mancs captain is now their all-time leading scorer with 3.
With the game tied at 1-1, both teams were searching for the winner but it was a game of few chances with both defences on top. The Ex Mancs failed to fully test rookie goalkeeper Mohan until late in the game when Wil Jones tried his luck from distance. His shot seemed to be heading wide when the Ex Lats stand-in keeper was fooled by the bounce and parried into his own net. An unfortunate own-goal, one which gave the Ex Mancs the lead at 2-1.
The Ex Lats poured forward but were unable to find a second goal. The Ex Mancs held out to claim back-to-back wins and the series lead at 3-2.
The Ex Mancs triumphed in 2014 with what some thought was a weakened side and went into this match with further losses to key players as both Joe Thorne and Gazz Jones were unavailable. They found strength in depth though and boasted a squad of 14, the strongest to date of any Ex Lats or Ex Mancs side, with debuts finally handed to Joe Ashton, Greg Worley and Dave Williams, while Steve Endo and Kenny Mitchell were also drafted in.
The Ex Lats, on the other hand, headed the into the match with a severely weakened squad with key midfielder Thomas Mikkelsen out with a long term injury and numerous other players unavailable. Scott Mohan made a timely recovery from a broken ankle but was only able to play in goal, meaning a first outfield appearance for regular keeper Dan Layrea. The Ex Lats drafted in Mo Taguri, James Snowdon and Jack Llewelyn for their first ever games.
In what was expected to be a close encounter, similar to that of the previous year, a good start was crucial for both sides. The Ex Lats started in the worst possible fashion by failing to get 11 men on the pitch for kick off. It would be 40 minutes before the 11th man arrived so the Ex Lats had to make up for their numerical deficiency with sheer determination and hard work. If anything it galvanised them and they had the better of a physical first period. The 10 men duly took the lead when Reuben Holmes latched on to James Snowdon's through pass to calmly slide into the corner for 1-0. The Ex Lats were a man up at the break and no longer a man down.
At the start of the second period, the Ex Lats, now with their full complement of players, were seemingly in the ascendancy. However, the energy expended in the opening 45 minutes started to wear on the side and the Ex Mancs began to take control of the game. An equaliser was found as the Ex Lats defence failed to clear a looping cross, allowing Galvin to pounce for the equaliser. That goal meaning that the Ex Mancs captain is now their all-time leading scorer with 3.
With the game tied at 1-1, both teams were searching for the winner but it was a game of few chances with both defences on top. The Ex Mancs failed to fully test rookie goalkeeper Mohan until late in the game when Wil Jones tried his luck from distance. His shot seemed to be heading wide when the Ex Lats stand-in keeper was fooled by the bounce and parried into his own net. An unfortunate own-goal, one which gave the Ex Mancs the lead at 2-1.
The Ex Lats poured forward but were unable to find a second goal. The Ex Mancs held out to claim back-to-back wins and the series lead at 3-2.