WONDER WEBB DELIVERS GOALS THAT MEAN THE TOWN NOW BOASTS ENGLAND SPORTING CHAMPIONS

'ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE NOW' AS CLUB GOES FROM BOTTOM TO TOP WITH EXCITING MIX OF YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE

THE T-shirt 'Believe Extraordinary' hinted at what was required of Atherstone Adders to reach hockey's Holy Grail in tournament terms.

For a club that faced down its own extinction in the latter part of the 20th century, they had become used to achieving the impossible while accepting miracles take a little longer.

But destiny duly smiled on the TQEA-based challengers to the sport's equivalent of the FA Cup, and in the end it was truly a case of "cometh the hour, cometh the man".

For it was on 60 minutes that this gripping Tier 3 Knockout Cup final was finally decided – with the second of two strikes from goal-machine Martin Webb – and Atherstone can now proudly toast English champions in its midst.

What was also remarkable was the timescale of this triumph. Thanks to the unwanted intervention of Covid-19, the 2019/20 season has been the longest in hockey's history.

It has taken a year to get to the knockout finals – staged at Nottingham Hockey Centre on Saturday.

For Atherstone, the clash with Southport – who put paid to defending champions University of Nottingham in this year's semis – was a moment for redemption.

Adders, who took out Lewes 4-0 in their last four encounter, were returning for their second successive knockout final – having been well beaten 4-1 by Nottingham last year.

The chance to go one step further and make sporting history for the town beckoned – and the Men's Firsts did not disappoint in winning the coveted title.

The side showed grit and determination in a closely fought contest with every team member playing their part in the victory.

The Adders side are testament to their junior development programme as 50 per cent of the team come from that system.

In the end, the Adders, were worthy winners.

The game was the last of the day during the England Hockey knockout finals' weekend and the team waited around anxiously until 5.45pm to begin.

However, when the game started the side showed no signs of nerves as they dominated possession and put the Lancashire side under pressure without really threatening the goalkeeper.

Southport were relying on counter attacks but were denied any real opportunities by the strong Adders defence.

With neither side really looking like scoring from open play the Adders were waiting for their opportunity to strike from a set piece.

This chance came when Daman Johal found a defender's foot in the D for the Adders after 20 minutes.

The resulting short corner saw a training ground set piece perfectly executed as Martin Webb swept into the circle and drilled the ball home past the static Southport defenders to give the Adders a deserved lead.

Adders went into at the interval 1-0 up but the second half was a different story.

Instead of pressing on to extend their lead, the Adders found themselves on the back foot as Southport looked for the equalising goal.

Once again, a set play short corner routine brought the scores level as Southport struck back.

Now it was simply a contest to be decided by who wanted the victory most

The Adders defended as a team as Southport threw everything at them. This time it was the Adders who were relying on counter attacks and stubborn defending.

After 60 minutes, one such counter attack from the Adders looked to be petering out as former skipper Webb found himself blocked in a corner by the Southport defenders.

Somehow, the man who scored more than 60 goals in the truncated season wriggled out of the situation before blasting the ball home from the narrowest of angles.

The Adders were ahead again – and this time they were not going to give up the lead.

Now the heroes were all in Southport's final third as Adders defended as a team. Their Lancashire opponents threw everything at them – and coach Mick Thomas's men were forced into stubborn defending.

A couple of vital blocks from Will Murphy in the Adders goal, a goal line clearance from Simon Thompson, and a string of superb tackles from skipper Lloyd Crowley and Arran Hall held the Southport side at bay.

Despite pushing hard, time ran out for Southport and the Adders were, unbelievably, England Hockey knockout champions 2020.

Following last season's promotion as league champions – their third consecutive achievement – they go into the new league season confident that "anything is possible".

HOW ATHERSTONE ADDERS HC BECAME CHAMPIONS

R1) Atherstone Adders 4-3 Wolverhampton & Tettenhall;

R3) Berkswell & Balsall Common 3-3 Atherstone (Adders HC won 4-2 on penalties)[.L]

SF) Lewes 0 Atherstone Adders 4[.L]