Rihoy North Corbet Shield faced off against Rovers Corbet Shield in a thrilling cup final at Corbet Field on 8 May 2025, kicking off at 6:00pm. The match concluded with a resounding 5-1 victory for Rihoy North, showcasing their attacking prowess and tactical superiority throughout the encounter.
Rihoy North adopted a 2-1-4-1 formation, which allowed them to dominate the midfield and create numerous scoring opportunities. Oliver Whitwam was stationed in goal, while Fin Cochrane and Max Ellis formed a solid central defensive partnership. Ezra Leaman played as the lone central midfielder, tasked with linking defence and attack. The attacking quartet comprised Connor Gardner on the right, Jarvis Humphrey on the left, and Hugo Gouveia and Morgan Finn in central roles, with Josh Garland leading the line as the striker.
The substitutes for Rihoy North included Daniel Bloomfield, Bella Pacheco, Theo Smith, Theo Ferbrache, Arthur Ward, Liam Le Cheminant, and William Sebire, providing depth and tactical flexibility for the team.
The match began with an explosive start, as Hugo Gouveia opened the scoring for Rihoy North just five minutes in, finding the net from inside the box. The early goal set the tone for the match, and Rihoy North continued to press forward. Just two minutes later, Josh Garland doubled the lead, converting from inside the area with a precise right-footed finish.
Rovers Corbet Shield responded quickly, pulling one back in the ninth minute with a stunning strike from outside the area, igniting hopes of a comeback. However, Rihoy North remained undeterred, and Garland struck again in the twelfth minute, this time assisted by Jarvis Humphrey, restoring the two-goal cushion with another close-range effort.
Garland was not finished yet; he completed his hat-trick in the eighteenth minute with a spectacular long-range effort that left the Rovers goalkeeper with no chance. The relentless pressure from Rihoy North forced Rovers into a defensive shell, and they struggled to regain their footing.
As the first half progressed, Rihoy North made their first substitution in the twenty-third minute, bringing on Daniel Bloomfield for Connor Gardner. Shortly after, in the twenty-fifth minute, Bella Pacheco replaced the in-form Josh Garland, who had already made a significant impact on the match.
The first half concluded with Rihoy North leading 4-1, and the players headed into the break with a comfortable advantage. The second half saw a flurry of substitutions, with Theo Ferbrache, Arthur Ward, and Theo Smith all entering the fray shortly after the restart, replacing Morgan Finn, Max Ellis, and Jarvis Humphrey respectively.
As the match wore on, Rihoy North continued to control the game, and in the fifty-ninth minute, Connor Gardner made a triumphant return to the pitch, scoring a sensational goal from outside the area to extend the lead to 5-1. This goal capped off a remarkable performance from Rihoy North, who demonstrated their attacking flair and defensive resilience throughout the match.
The final whistle blew, confirming Rihoy North's emphatic victory in the Corbet Shield final, a testament to their skill, teamwork, and determination. The players celebrated their well-deserved triumph, having showcased their capabilities on the grand stage.
