The 2010 FA Trophy Final was the 40th final of the Football Association's cup competition for levels 5–8 of the English football league system. The match was contested by Stevenage Borough who won the competition in 2007 and 2009, and Barrow who won the competition in 1990. Although Stevenage Borough, who had won the Football Conference were pre-match favourites ahead of Barrow who had finished 15th, Barrow won 2–1 in extra time, after the match had ended in a 1–1 draw.

Club backgrounds

Stevenage Borough

Stevenage Borough were the first non-league team to appear three times at the new Wembley Stadium, London after winning two of the previous three FA Trophy competitions through victories in 2007 and 2009. Stevenage became the first team to win a competitive match, and subsequently, a competition trophy following the reconstruction of Wembley Stadium. The supporters of the club occupied the West End of Wembley Stadium and will do so again in the 2010 final.[citation needed]

Barrow

The last time Barrow appeared in the FA Trophy final was 1990, when they won 3–0 against Leek Town. They were making their first appearance at the redeveloped Wembley Stadium, in their second season in the Conference National following promotion from the Conference North.

Route to the Final

BarrowRoundStevenage
Kettering Town A 1–0Walker 49'First RoundEbbsfleet United H 2–0Beardsley 16', Bridges 88'
Maidenhead United A 1–0Bolland 8'Second RoundVauxhall Motors H 6–0Roberts 22', Boylan 40', Bridges 74' 76', Drury 78', Long 80'
Gateshead H 1–1Bond 63' (pen.)Third RoundDover Athletic H 4–1Sills 32', Beardsley 42', Bostwick 57', Odubade 85'
Gateshead A 3–2Walker 36' (pen.), Jones 44' (o.g.), Bond 73'Replay
York City H 2–1Bolland 5', Walker 35' (pen.)Fourth RoundWorkington H 2–1Long 55', 90'
Salisbury City A 1–0Blundell 75'Semi-Finals First LegKidderminster Harriers A 5–1Bridges 26', 43', Odubade 38', Beardsley 70', 83'
Salisbury City H 2–1Walker 51' (pen.), 89'Semi-Finals Second LegKidderminister Harriers H 0–0

Match

Summary

Barrow seemed to begin the game more brightly out of the two sides, with three shots in the first ten minutes. It was on the ten-minute mark where, in Borough's first attack of the game, Andy Drury lashed a strike straight into the top corner of Barrow keeper Stuart Tomlinson's goal. This goal seemed to change the feel of the game, with Stevenage applying more and more pressure until, on 28 minutes, Stevenage midfielder David Bridges was shown a straight red card for serious foul play on Barrow No. 7, Andy Bond. The game was evenly balanced from then until half-time.

Barrow began the second-half brightly, creating plenty of chances; Stevenage had a few chances, however Barrow seemed to apply more and more pressure. On 79 minutes, substitute Lee McEvilly placed a header into the bottom right corner of Chris Day's net. Barrow exerted more and more pressure from then onwards, until 90 minutes when Borough keeper Day suffered an injury and was replaced by Ashley Bayes. Deep into added time when extra time seemed likely, Robin Hulbert went in for a challenge with his elbow, meaning the referee had no choice but to show red. Stevenage substitute Charlie Griffin had a huge amount of blood coming from his face, there was no way he could continue. They had already used all three subs, meaning the extra time was played 10 against 9 (Barrow 10 players, Stevenage 9).

The first half of extra time was even, but Barrow were possibly edging it. The second half of extra time could not have started better for Barrow as Jason Walker struck a stunning 25-yard strike into the top left corner of the goal. Barrow seemed to try and play the clock down and Stevenage had a few decent chances, before on 117 minutes Barrow had a 3-against-1 on the keeper, which amazingly, they missed. In the end, it didn't matter and the trophy went to Barrow.

Details

Barrow2–1 (a.e.t.)Stevenage Borough
McEvilly 79' Walker 107'Drury 10'
BarrowStevenage
GK 21 England Stuart Tomlinson RB 2 Wales Simon Spender CB 4 England Paul Jones (c) CB 5 England Phil Bolland LB 3 England Paul Edwards RM 8 England Paul Rutherford 110' CM 6 England Robin Hulbert 90+6' CM 7 England Andy Bond LM 24 England Simon Wiles 64' FW 9 England Jason Walker FW 26 England Gregg Blundell 74' Substitutes: GK 1 England Tim Deasy MF 8 England Mark Boyd 110' FW 10 Northern Ireland Lee McEvilly 74' MF 11 England Carlos Logan 64' DF 12 Wales Mike Pearson Managers: England Darren Sheridan England Dave BaylissGK 16 England Chris Day 90' RB 25 England Ronnie Henry CB 5 England Jon Ashton CB 14 England Mark Roberts (c) LB 3 England Scott Laird RM 23 England Andy Drury CM 18 England David Bridges 28' CM 24 England Michael Bostwick LM 30 England Joel Byrom 59' FW 20 England Chris Beardsley 66' FW 11 Nigeria Yemi Odubade Substitutes: GK 1 England Ashley Bayes 90' DF 2 England Lawrie Wilson 59' MF 8 England Stacy Long FW 9 England Charlie Griffin 66' MF 30 England Peter Vincenti Manager: England Graham Westley
GK21England Stuart Tomlinson
RB2Wales Simon Spender
CB4England Paul Jones (c)
CB5England Phil Bolland
LB3England Paul Edwards
RM8England Paul Rutherford110'
CM6England Robin Hulbert90+6'
CM7England Andy Bond
LM24England Simon Wiles64'
FW9England Jason Walker
FW26England Gregg Blundell74'
Substitutes:
GK1England Tim Deasy
MF8England Mark Boyd110'
FW10Northern Ireland Lee McEvilly74'
MF11England Carlos Logan64'
DF12Wales Mike Pearson
Managers:
England Darren Sheridan England Dave Bayliss
GK16England Chris Day90'
RB25England Ronnie Henry
CB5England Jon Ashton
CB14England Mark Roberts (c)
LB3England Scott Laird
RM23England Andy Drury
CM18England David Bridges28'
CM24England Michael Bostwick
LM30England Joel Byrom59'
FW20England Chris Beardsley66'
FW11Nigeria Yemi Odubade
Substitutes:
GK1England Ashley Bayes90'
DF2England Lawrie Wilson59'
MF8England Stacy Long
FW9England Charlie Griffin66'
MF30England Peter Vincenti
Manager:
England Graham Westley