Metropolitan Police FC have once again claimed the Specsavers Surrey Senior Cup, after a hard-fought game against opponents Virginia Water FC.  

The opening minutes saw Virginia Water with a lot of the ball, some crisp touches from Ross Nunn and Seb D’Aversa enabled them to push forward steadily.  

Met Police waited patiently and got their first decent chance in the 9th minute, when Herson Rodriguez-Alves made a good run into the channel, but his shot was blocked. Met Police’s Ollie Knight swung in a beautiful freekick soon, but Virginia Water cleared the ball and launched a counter with Jack Arnold and Ross Nunn at the helm – Met Police defenders did well to recover.  

The best chance yet fell to Virginia’s Jack Mullan in the 19th minute, but he failed to disturb the scoreboard as his shot in a 1v1 situation went wide of the post.  

However, Virginia Water were rewarded for their efforts in 21st minute, they made it 1-0 through their left back Seb D’Aversa, who thumped the ball into the net after Met Police failed to clear their lines. It was a hard shot and Met’s keeper Liam Beech was rooted to his spot as the ball fizzed through a cluster of bodies. 

Met Police did not let their heads drop as they continued to impose their style of playing out from the back, looking to skipper Luke Robinson for inspiration, as he was commanding their midfield and dictating play.  

In the 27th minute, Luke found himself unmarked at the edge of the box as the ball fell to him. He calmly placed it into the bottom left corner leaving the keeper with no chance. Scores were level once again and both teams looked to push on in the final 15 minutes of the half. 

Met Police started creating more chances, with Martell Taylor-Crossdale leading the team from the front. They showed a lot of desire by attacking Virginia’s wide spaces and putting in crosses. This was epitomised in the 36th minute when Met put a cross from the left wing, and Conor Lee was at the end of it as he crept up to the back post, to score and make it 2-1 heading into the break. 

Both teams made tactical substitutions at half time and Virginia Water were punished early in the second half as they gave away a foul in a dangerous area. Met Police’s Ollie Knight was on freekick duty and did not disappoint as he scored in the 50th minute by whipping the ball into the near post, catching the keeper off guard, and extending their lead to 3-1.  

Met Police kept the ball and did well not give Virginia Water any space or time. Rudy Allen was strong in midfield for Met, winning most of his duels and intercepting passes effectively.   

Virginia Water had a great chance to get back in the game in the 66th minute, striker Jack Mullan was through on goal with the keeper to beat, Mullan lobbed the keeper but unfortunately, the shot did not have enough on it, and Met Police recovered the ball to keep it at 3-1. 

Met Police’s Martell Taylor-Crossdale continued to put in a brilliant performance up top with good hold up and link up play, Herson Rodriguez-Alves also had an outstanding game, and he rounded this off in emphatic style as he shot with his week foot in the 72nd minute, to find the bottom left corner of the goal to put the game to bed.  

Virginia Water worked tirelessly the entire night, but it was Metropolitan Police who reclaimed the Specsavers Surrey Senior Cup they previously lifted in 2019 by winning 4-1, their fourth win in the competition. 

Goals: 
(Met Police): Luke Robinson (27’), Conor Lee (36’), Ollie Knight (50’), Herson Rodriguez-Alves (72’) 
(Virginia Water): Seb D’Aversa (21’) 

MOTM: Herson Rodriguez-Alves 

Attendance: 318 

Virginia Water: Matt Jones, Josh Blakebrough, Seb D’Aversa, Billy Blake, Joe McBride, Izzy Goddard – Joseph, Jack Arnold, Casey Bocarro, Jack Mullan, Ross Nunn, James Goodey, Michael Capon, James Clark, Owen Cartwright, Turnell Sinclair, Charlie Dunkley. 

Met Police: Liam Beech, Conor Lee, Alex Fisher, Harry Taylor, Bernie Tanner, Louis Birch, Ollie Knight, Luke Robinson, Martell Taylor – Crossdale, Herson Rodriguez-Alves, Josh Keeyn, Jasper Mather, Rudy Allen, Laurence Carnest, Louis Degand, Liam Ferdinand.