STANWAY Rovers’ joint manager Rick Andrews recognised their Errington Challenge Cup triumph as ‘important for the club’ after they brushed aside Romford 4-0 in the final, writes BEN MCCARTHY.

Goals from George Okoye, Reece Conway, Tom Maycock and Ricky Tarbard secured Rovers victory at the First Call Community Stadium, home of Heybridge Swifts FC.

Andrews described the night as a ‘bit of a reward’ for his side’s efforts since the managerial overhaul at the club, last Autumn.

He said: “I think with any cup final, it is always going to be a little bit nervy.

“We said to the boys at half time, ‘it wasn’t a 3-0 half.’ Romford caused us problems and should have had maybe one or even two goals.

“We scored at the right times. I think the third one knocked the stuffing because we scored quite quickly from one of their errors.

“In the second half we had to really dig deep, I thought we weathered the storm for 15 minutes or so and I think they became a bit deflated.

“We defended really well, and we managed to see the game out and, obviously, icing on the cake with the fourth goal.

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“It’s great for them, because when you join that journey, knowing that you can’t win the league, at least they have had a bit of a reward now.

“But we’ve got a game on Friday, another semi-final against Woodford [in the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy], hopefully they can get through to another final.

“It's important for the club because regional finals or semi-finals shows progression, so yeah, pleased.”

Rovers made a fast start and were ahead inside five minutes.

Tyler Corlett won possession and advanced into the opposition half, where he found Harry Thomas, who, in turn, picked out Okoye to his right-hand side.

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Okoye calmly struck the ball across Romford keeper Wayne Baker, to give Stanway the lead.

Conway made a captain’s contribution and doubled Rovers' lead 20 minutes later, calmly heading in from six yards.

And less than 100 seconds later, Rovers added a third when Maycock's strike from just outside the area trickled into the bottom right-hand corner.

Romford, who had lost in the Essex Senior League play-off final just two days prior, could not breach the Stanway defence.

Callum Robinson made a fantastic stop to deny Jacob Wiggins free-kick, just before half-time.

Conway made a pivotal block inside his own six-yard box during the second half while Tyler Corlett thwarted multiple Boro attacks.

Tarbard sealed Stanway's win in stoppage-time with a shot from the edge of the area that found the bottom right-hand corner.