01/02/2026
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๏ธ
๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ
๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐ฑ ๐๐-๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐๐ฌ
๐๐ข๐๐ค-๐จ๐๐: ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ
A cold and windy day at Bobby Hancocks Park was offset by a packed-out ground, as fans gathered to warmly welcome two new fierce rivals for the first-ever Eric Constable Memorial Cup.
Constable Saints vs Florida Rovers delivered from the very first whistle.
The match started at a blistering pace, with neither side holding back. Crunching tackles, quick passing, and end-to-end football set the tone early, keeping the crowd on their feet. Both teams created well-worked chances in the opening exchanges, but the goalkeepers stood firm โ until the 10-minute mark.
Saintsโ forward Sam Harris found himself in the box with the ball at his feet and calmly slotted home. The Roversโ keeper, caught too far off his line, made a spectacular recovery dive, but it was too little too late.
๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ, and Sam Harris became the first goalscorer in Eric Constable Memorial Cup history.
The high tempo began to take its toll as early fatigue set in, but both sides continued to battle for the next goal until the end of the first period.
๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐:
๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐
๐
๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐
The second period began much like the first, with both teams rejuvenated after the break. It didnโt take long for the Rovers to respond. Three minutes in, the Roversโ skipper Matt Florida took matters into his own hands, unleashing a superb strike from over 30 yards out. The ball flew into the corner, perfectly placed and leaving the Saints keeper with no chance.
๐โ๐.
Rolling substitutions for both sides kept the intensity high, with quick changes maintaining the fast pace. Hard tackles and slick passing kept the crowd roaring as the match swung end to end.
At the 45-minute mark, Chris Bailey put the Saints back in front with a tidy, well-worked finish.
๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ.
Rovers dominated possession for much of the remainder of the period but couldnโt find a way through the Saintsโ defence. Then, on the 55-minute mark, a quick turnover of possession led to a Saints breakaway, finished neatly by Dom Abbott, extending the lead to ๐โ๐.
Five minutes of intense football followed, with Rovers pushing desperately to pull one back before the break, but the refereeโs whistle brought the second period to a close.
๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐จ:
๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐
๐
๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐
As the final period began, the long winter evening drew in and Bobby Hancocks Park sparkled under the floodlights.
Both teams continued to fight โ Saints pushing to entertain the crowd, Rovers sensing they still had a chance. The atmosphere reflected the belief that anything could still happen.
Just one minute into the third period, Chris Bailey, who had been making deep runs all game, collected the ball, beat two defenders, and slotted calmly to the keeperโs left to score his second of the match.
๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ.
Rovers refused to give up, and with the crowd behind them, their spirits were lifted. On the 70th minute, skipper Matt Florida produced a contender for goal of the match โ a tidy chip over the advancing Saints keeper, who tried to smother the ball at Floridas feet, but the skipper was too quick, all that was lacking was some sauce to go with it.
๐โ๐.
The Saints responded swiftly. Six minutes later, Conor Mayo netted a stunning trivela from just inside the box to make it ๐โ๐, before Jordan Buckingham struck again four minutes later to put the game firmly to bed at ๐โ๐.
Despite the scoreline, Rovers continued to battle until the end. With ten minutes remaining, they dug deep and played out of their skin, determined to finish strongly. On the stroke of the 90th minute, fan favourite Alan Amaira, cheered on by some of the younger fans in the VIP area, added Roversโ third. A low effort rolled in past the Saints goalkeeper to round off the scoring.
๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐:
๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐
๐
๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐
Constable Saints were crowned winners of the Eric Constable Memorial Cup.
A fantastic match for a fantastic cause at Bobby Hancocks Park, with both teams showing great spirit, determination, and sportsmanship throughout. Ultimately, there can only be one winner.
Well done to Todd Constable and the Saints.
Commiserations to Matt Florida and the Rovers โ hopefully revenge will be on the cards next year in what promises to be another entertaining encounter.
โ๏ธ Stu Shearsby
