The match started at a rapid pace with Lymington shooting wide in the opening seconds. Play quickly moved to the other end of the field and from a right wing cross by Gazza, Leo was unmarked and rose like the proverbial salmon sending his glanced header into the corner of the net to put Bournemouth 1-0 up in the 1st minute. This woke Lymington up and for the next 10 minutes they pushed for the equaliser. The nearest they came was when a ball was driven across the Bournemouth six yard box with several Lymington forwards just missing the final touch. There was plenty of passion and tackles went in. Dave Marden the Lymington number 5 was cautioned after 15 minutes for a trip, and just five minutes later Daniel Veal also of Lymington was cautioned for throwing the ball away. Poppies had two efforts from headers that would have wrapped the game up but somehow the Lymington keeper was able to deny an effort on 24 minutes from man of the match Lamin, On the half hour Matt Willsher fumbled a goal bound header from Leo away, unfortunately for Poppies Jack was unable to convert the chance from close in- and the ball was cleared. 2 minutes later Carlo Tate had a shot blocked on the Bournemouth line, by Ollie, who denied another Lymington strike with a timely stop. Half time came with Poppies still leading.
The second half started with both teams attacking. Jack shot over from six yards although from a difficult angle. Play went straight up the other end and in the 56th minute a Lymington cross from the right was glanced home by Steve Marwood’s head although it had the benefit of bouncing in off the post following a pinball scenario in the Poppies goalmouth when nobody could get their foot on the ball. Play was even until the final 10 minutes when Lymington found some energy and twice almost scored.
Extra time came and Lymington substitute Simon Young was cautioned for a very late tackle as players got tired, and could probably count himself lucky it was only a yellow card. Lymington got on top in the final period of extra time and twice Darren Crook was through on goal but put both efforts wide of the far post. Poppies were beginning to tire quite badly but managed to keep going but there was no winner when full time arrived and it was down to penalties.
After the initial five penalties the tie was still level at three each. Both keepers saving two kicks. Sudden death penalties came and it was not until the 20th penalty kick that a winner emerged. Willsher saving the 19th kick and Lymington Town’s Tate converted thereby meaning they had won the Sydenhams League Cup 7-6 on penalties.