Latest team to win the FA Trophy Final confirmed after tense finish

The latest team to win the FA Trophy Final is confirmed just hours after Newport Pagnell lifted the FA Vase trophy who beat Littlehampton.

This season’s FA Trophy Final will have see the presence of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney who will hope that their first full season in charge of Wrexham can end with glory at Wembley Stadium.

However standing in their way are fellow National League side Bromley, whose manager Andy Woodman who comes into this with his side not in great form and there is speculation that he’s interested by clubs at a higher level.

Phil Parkinson – Wrexham

“Having Ryan Reynolds at the semi-final, and the TV documentary really latching onto this Wembley appearance, means that there’s a massive amount of excitement in the town. It will be incredible to see so many of our supporters in the stands at Wembley.

“The opportunity to play at Wembley doesn’t come around very often. Some players, some managers never get the chance to go there. A lot of supporters will say that their ambition is to see their team play there. You can’t ever devalue a trip to Wembley and the chance to play at the most iconic football stadium in the world.

“I took Bradford City to the League Cup Final there in 2013, which was an incredible experience. Obviously, the final didn’t go too well for us [with a 5-0 defeat to Swansea City] but we were up against an outstanding team. What it did for the city, though, was incredible. You could feel what it did for the city of Bradford.

“Now I’m hugely proud to take this Wrexham side there too.

“After some really tough years, the supporters have really built a connection with this team. We’ve instilled a real work ethic into the lads and the fans have responded to that by backing us home and away. The supporters know that they’ve got genuine owners who want to build a club properly. A project like this doesn’t happen overnight but slowly and surely everything is being put in place. We’re going to have a sound structure at this club for years to come.

“Where is the club now in comparison to where it was a year ago? It’s a long, long way ahead. Our supporters have been there throughout the tough times, now it’s great to have the chance to give them something back. I hope they have a fantastic day.”

Andy Woodman – Bromley

“This is a special day, not just for the players and the staff or everyone involved at Wembley, but for the supporters that will be coming in such massive numbers to the game.

“It will be a very proud moment for me personally, leading that team out at Wembley, a real honour for someone who represents the area and the community of Bromley – a place that I’ve grown up very close to.

“The magnitude of what it meant really dawned on me before that semi-final against York. It became absolutely clear just how important this is, not just for the club itself, but also for the community. I think it has really given everyone a lift.

“This time last year, I was watching my son [Freddie] play in a play-off final against Brentford and it was bizarre being at Wembley with hardly anyone in the ground. Wembley is a glorious place when it’s full – a special place and a great place for these boys because a lot of them have never played there before. It’s an occasion that will remain with them for the rest of their careers.

“Personally, I’ve obviously got hugely fond memories of the place. My great friend Gareth Southgate obviously has Wembley as his home ground now he’s manager of England, but he reminded me recently that we were both ball boys there for an FA Trophy Final between Kidderminster and Burton Albion in 1987. It was 0-0 and I think Kidderminster won it on penalties.

“I won a play-off final with Northampton there and then got there the following year and lost to Grimsby. I’ve also been there with Crystal Palace as a player in 1990 and as a coach at Palace in the Final against Manchester United in 2016. Will that help today? I’m not sure.

“I don’t care how many times you’ve played at Wembley, when you walk out there it’s a special place.

“It’s the best place in the world if you win but it’s a really uncomfortable place to be if you lose. I just hope these boys get to experience the former – because there’s really nothing quite like it.”

Jordan Davies – Wrexham

“Growing up every kid wants to play at Wembley, it’s one of those career-defining moments.

“It’s going to be a big occasion and I can’t wait to step out there.

“When I signed in the middle of Covid, no one could really have imagined what was going to happen here.

“It’s been unbelievable since the new owners came in. If you look at where the team started and where we’re at now, it’s incredible.

“It’s exciting for everyone involved, for the players, the staff and all the fans in the town as well.”

Michael Cheek – Bromley

“It was an amazing feeling to get those goals in the semi-final. I was quite emotional when I scored. It took my breath away a little bit – hearing what it meant to all the fans and realising that we could be walking out at Wembley.

“It has just never happened for one reason or another but I’ve always said that I want to play at the highest possible level,” he continued.

“I’m always looking to get into the Football League. If I managed it, it would be probably be my biggest achievement as a footballer.

“What would scoring at Wembley feel like? That would be the icing on the cake. With all my friends and all my family there, that would just be unbelievable.

“I’ll be trying my best to do exactly that.”

Without further ado, this is how the game played out…

2’ – An early run for Corey Whitely was well defended for a goal kick by Max

3’ – Mullin made a superb run, but his pull-back couldn’t be squeezed in by the onrunning Palmer

10’ – header from Bromley was easily caught by Dibble

10’ – J.Jones slammed an effort which was blocked on the edge of the Bromley box

13’ – Al-Hamadi flashes a shot over from 20-yards out.

14’ – Mullin sets back a delightful pass to the oncoming Davies, who drives a shot straight into the hands of Balcombe

15’ – Tom O’Connor calmly sees a driving Al-Hamadi out of play on the byline.

19’ – Palmer was so close to slotting Mullin through on goal, but the pass was blocked.

26’ – Davies went on a surging run in the box and fell down, but the referee stood still and turned down any penalty claims coming his way.

26’ – Bromley countered straight after, but McFadzean covered back and Wrexham won an offside call on the edge of their box.

28’ – James Jones fired a shot from 20-yards, but was blocked and Bromley won a throw-in.

29’ – Davies picked up the ball in the midfield and had acres of space to run into and eventually he chose to shoot instead of laying-off Mullin, but a Bromley man blocked the effort.

30’ – Mullin legged it down the right-wing and appeared to be tugged back, again the referee gave no decision.

32’ – Chris Bush saw his long-throw easily dealt with by the Wrexham back-line.

34’ – Mullin gathered the ball at the front-post, but was dispossessed easily.

35’ – Mullin sent a sweeping ball to the back-post from the right-wing, Tozer rose highest, but couldn’t keep his header below the bar.

38’ – Mullin went to the edge of the Bromley box and tried to poke a clever ball through to Palmer, though the ball evaded the striker.

42’ – Luke Coulson made a great run down the right of the Wrexham box, but his cut-back was cleared by Tozer.

43’ – Dibble landed himself in some bother clearing a ball down the left-wing, but eventually kicked it out of play for a Bromley throw.

44’ – Mullin went down right side of the box and his shot squirmed through the legs of a Bromley defender and was well caught by Balcombe

45’ – Stoppage in play as Omar Sowunmi is down with a dislocated shoulder.

45′ – Sowunmi is stretchered off and replaced by Joe Partington.

45+8’ – Bromley won the ball from a Wrexham corner and Tozer was penalised for a foul on the right-wing.

45+10’ – McFadzean had to head an awkward ball and Bromley won a corner. Wrexham cleared.

47′ – Davies’ free-kick from the left-wing was cleared easily by Bromley.

48’ – Davies won the header from the throw-in, but he glanced it wide.

50’ – Mullin tried a first-time effort from the halfway line, but his half-volley bounces in front of the goal and over, with keeper Balcombe recovering in time anyways.

53’ – The ball was overhit to the back-post and Mullin’s subsequent cross was blocked.

54’ – Coulson’s free-kick was played wide from inside the Wrexham half and the Reds pushed away any danger.

56 – Dibble made a huge diving save, after a fizzing shot from Al-Hamadi.

57 – Dibble is needed again to make an important save, with Michael Cheek set through firing from close range.

59’ – Wrexham fans celebrate, but only for Mullin to hit the side netting from the left-wing.

64’ GOAL! – Michael Cheek scored a tap-in following a pass across goal from Whitely. Scenes in the Bromley end to go 1-0 up.

69’ – Dibble pushed out an initial dangerous cross and Cheek was well pressured into not converting the loose ball.

74’ – Davies was played through right next to the goal and he chose to play the ball across the box, instead of shooting, but there was no one there to tap home.

77’ – Play was suspended due to a fan needing attention in the Wrexham end.

79’ – Thomas Bramall restarted proceedings.

84’ – Attendance | 46,111
Incredible support down in London

89’ – Bromley taking their time with a long throw.

90+4’ – Davies played an inverted cross and it hits Hyde in front of goal, who couldn’t adjust his feet to get a real effort on goal.

90+5’ – Hyde put the ball in the net following a frantic scramble, but the linesman had flagged early for offside.

90+6’ – Play was suspended due to pyrotechniques being thrown onto the pitch following the offside goal.

The full time whistle blew and Bromley couldn’t believe what they had just done. They went into this as the underdogs and in turn upset to bookies.

Michael Cheek yn rhoi Bromley ar blaen! ⚽

63’ Bromley 1-0 Wrecsam | Tlws FA Lloegr #FATrophy #FATrophyFinal #BROWRE pic.twitter.com/8tQr9XN9f0

— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) May 22, 2022

AM ARBEDIAD! 🧤

90+2′ Bromley 1-0 Wrecsam | Tlws FA Lloegr #FATrophy #FATrophyFinal #BROWRE pic.twitter.com/e0Mgk1DIyf

— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) May 22, 2022