March Town boss dedicates long-overdue cup success to the fans as Hares end 37-year wait for some silverware
Ash Taylor dedicated March Town's Hinchingbrooke Cup success to the club's supporters as the Hares finally ended their long wait to lift a trophy.
Goals from Matt Foy (2) and Ben Seymour-Shove, who has a particular liking for this competition having won it four times as a player, ended a 37-year drought without any silverware as the Hares defeated Blackstones 3-1.
The scenes at the final whistle told a story in itself as March picked up their first item for the trophy cabinet since 1987/88 when the club won the old Eastern Counties League.
Speaking after a momentous night, Taylor said: "I think we've been waiting so long to try to get to a cup final.
"They looked at some history earlier, I think it was 1955 the last time the club won a cup. We said we wanted to be the first group to do it for so long and we've managed that.
"It was close last year, it was small margins. We've improved this season and now we get this terrific night.
"To see some of these fans, like Colin for example who have supported this club for so long, to see them get emotional afterwards is what it is all about.
Taylor added: "When I came to this football club I said that I hadn't come here just to have a standard team. I wanted to try to have success and nights like this this is what it's about.
"Once you feel it you want to try to feel it again and we've got a taste of it now. I think the Warwick game helped with the occasion and tonight we've gone and delivered,
"I'm really proud and what a night. We've been around the play-offs all season so we've got to be proud of that and to end it with this trophy, which is a magnificent trophy, is great for the fans.
"I probably do this more for the supporters at the club than I do for myself. I love seeing what we can create and how much it means to them so we've just got to keep on pushing them."
March Town had Josh Pope - brother of England goalkeeper Nick - between the posts as he deputised for the absent Jonah Gill.
And having won the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division title with Mildenhall last month, Pope's experience proved crucial with some vital saves in a difficult first half.
It was the Hares' ruthless streak in front of goal that proved the difference against their United Counties League Division One opponents.
Stones had claimed a hat-trick of higher-level scalps en-route to reaching the final and created enough chances to have caused another upset.
Foy headed home the opening goal and, although Dami Agboola equalised early in the second half, a second goal for Foy and one for Seymour-Shove wrapped up a 3-1 win at Yaxley’s Toojays Stadium.
Coach Scott Callaghan said: "I'm delighted for everyone, Ash, the club and the supporters.
"I don't even know how many were here but there's 200 or 300 from March behind the goal and we've done it for them.
"The players were outstanding. The first half we weren't up to it but fair play to them second half and we've won the game."
Assistant manager Luke Pepper added: "Up to now it has been a bit of a process, a project, and we've improved season-on-season.
"Yes we came up short in the play-offs but to have some kind of validation at the end of it for all of the hard work that has gone in tops off a good season.”
March Town: Pope, Bucciero, Saunders, Brumby, Emmington, Withers, Burrows, Green, Gillies, Foy, Seymour-Shove. Subs: Rider, Edwards, Carolan, Cavozzi, Biggs.
