HMS Drake clinch historic Navy Cup title with a dominant win over HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Drake have won their first-ever Navy Cup title after a commanding 4-0 victory over HMS Queen Elizabeth at Westleigh Park.
For the Plymouth based outfit, it was their first appearance in the Navy Cup Final after a season which has seen them go undefeated in every competition they have entered this year.
The team from HMS Queen Elizabeth have also come in fresh off an unbeaten title-winning campaign, and they came into the final hoping to become the first ship to lift the Navy Cup since 1939.
In the opening minute of the match, HMS Drake immediately set the tone when POPT Kriss Young caught the players from HMS Queen Elizabeth napping to score an early goal.
A messy opening first half for HMS Queen Elizabeth continued when AB Jack Ray brought down AB Raine inside the box, to which the referee didn't hesitate to award HMS Drake a penalty.
Goal scorer POPT Young stepped forward to take the penalty, but his shot was quickly deflected by HMS Queen Elizabeth's quick-thinking keeper LET(ME) Jamie Arnold, who prevented a double disaster for the team in green.
HMS Queen Elizabeth began to pick up their form as the game progressed, but the momentum was still on HMS Drake's side.
Former UKAF player LET David Vincent got within striking range and grasped the opportunity to extend his team's lead, and with his strike from the right side of the box seeing the ball straight into the back of the net, HMS Drake now had a two-goal cushion over HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Moments later, UKAF veteran Lt Cdr Andrew Todd fought his way past the green defence inside the penalty area, and like his former UKAF teammate, he struck the ball from the right side of the box to score HMS Drake's third goal of the game which put them up 3-0 at half time.
In the second half, HMS Queen Elizabeth showed signs of fighting back with more drive and discipline on the pitch and they came close to scoring on multiple occasions.
But strong defensive work from HMS Drake frustrated the team in green and it began to look like the game would end with a goalless second half.
But to add insult to injury, Lt Cdr Todd scored with minutes to go on the clock to further cement HMS Drake's claim on the Navy Cup.
The sound of the full time whistle then confirmed a historic win for the team from HMS Drake, who win the Navy Cup for the very first time as the team from HMS Queen Elizabeth settle for being runners up for the second time since 2023.
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