This game presented the perfect opportunity for one of these teams to make up for a relatively lacklustre year.  Winning the Premier Division Cup would most definitely be the perfect preamble to either club's upcoming 2011 season.  White Eagles coaching staff expressed their sincere desire to win this game, noting that they had won their previous regular season game against Chatham 4-2.  What would subsequently take place on the pitch was another matter.  St. Thomas (in black) kept much of the play in the early going in the White Eagles' end.  The White Eagles responded in kind with drives of their own but they were fewer and further in between.    In most of the play taking place in the first half, it could be seen that these two teams were fairly evenly matched in most practical aspects of the game, yet St. Thomas did seem to maintain an advantage in offensive efficiency and organizational cohesiveness.  It should be noted that the White Eagles were playing with at least one injured player as well.  During the first half play was brisk and featured battles and tackles of various sorts taking place throughout the midfield, but ultimately the chances on goal generated by both sides were not of a nature that would seriously challenge either keeper.  Both keepers in this contest played solid games and the match could be considered largely a defensive battle of sorts.  The first half ended in very undramatic fashion with a score of 0-0.
With the opening of the second half it was very apparent that the St. Thomas squad was ready to close the deal.  They fortified their striker and defensive positions and kept the ball moving quickly through the midfield areas.  White Eagles strikers faced still competition in the backfield, while White Eagles defenders faced considerable speed up front.  St. Thomas opened with a flurry of quick, forwarding passes up the middle that put the strikers in black in one-on-one and two-on-two opportunities against the White Eagles defenders.  Utilizing this offensive strategy paid off for St. Thomas as early as 62 minutes.  St. Thomas's # 5 - Derek Batten - used his speed, strength and size to split the White Eagles defense and drive in towards the White Eagles goal unharassed.  He lofted a fairly soft but accurate shot into the far side of the net that gave the White Eagles keeper no opportunity for response.  Suddenly a goal had been scored and the White Eagles did not appear to be in possession of adequate counter measures.  The White Eagles in no way appeared to be deficient in talent, as fine individual efforts were seen to have been made throughout the pitch.  But they did not appear to have the overall team co-ordination that would be necessary to implement successful playing strategies and formulate serious offensive drives on the St. Thomas goal.  St. Thomas stuck with their plan however, keeping strength and speed up front and size on defense.  They moved the ball quickly through the midfield and continually fed their strikers the ball.  St. Thomas did have some noteworthy difficulties with the offside rule, but if this was not the case the score could have been much higher.  The White Eagles came close on a free kick at 82 minutes but this is as far as they would get.  St. Thomas took the game and the Cup 1-0 and no doubt savoured the moment, while looking forward with some confidence to higher team performance next season.  JHS