St John DFC had a near full squad to choose from, as only Henry McDougall missed out with an ankle injury. Memnos Costi and Jonathan Evans found themselves on the sub bench, as midfielder Tom Bastock was picked to replace McDougall and play as a converted centre defender. Ross Edwards was also unlucky to be named as a substitute as Andrew Coombs was chosen ahead of him at right back.
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Despite being at nearly full strength, St John made a nervous start to the BDSC Final where they struggled to stamp their authority on the game. The passing was not fluent with players finding it difficult to keep the ball on the concrete like surface. However on around 20 mins, Andrew Coombs repaid Memnos Costi's faith in him by firing home a rebound from a Nick Gregory corner for his first goal of the season. The goal calmed the players' nerves and the Gunners started to dominate possession. It was then no surprise when St John extended their lead in the 35th minute. Matthew Powe throw in found Darren Dunne on the right wing where he then turned and delivered an inch-perfect cross to Daniel Ailey who was unmarked in the box. Ailey then duly finished, thumping home a powerful header past the Glasgow keeper. St John went into the half-time break 2-0 up and very much in control.
Jonathan Evans replaced Thomas Bastock at half time after he had complained of a niggle to his hamstring. Memnos then during the break had empathised the need for St John to press home their advantage but instead the Gunners got off to the worst possible start when five minutes into the second half, Glasgow Athletic pulled a goal back. Glasgow's free-kick specialist made the Gunners pay for not having a man on the post by scoring direct from a corner with a wicked inswinger. The goal sparked Glasgow into life and provided them with their best period of play. The Blues even came close to equalising but Paul Christou pulled out a breathtaking save when he somehow turned over a bullet from point blank range. In truth, had the forward placed the ball a metre either side of Christou, the outlook of the match could have turned out very different. But St John were not to be denied and in the 65th minute, Matthew Powe latched onto a Glasgow defender's mistake, blasting the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards. Darren Dunne then put the match beyond doubt with a well-taken penalty in the 70th minute after Glasgow's Stephen Gardiner, playing at centre back, clumsily pushed over Huseyin Er inside the box.
The victory means that St John Arsenal DFC reclaims the BDSC cup from Fulham DFC and in doing so, keeps the trophy in London for the fourth consecutive year.
St Johns Arsenal DFC:
Christou, Hasan Er, Coombs, Bastock (Evans 45), Byfield, Dunne, Gregory (Edwards 75), Huseyin Er, Ailey (Memnos Costi 80), Marios Costi, Powe
Scorers: Coombs 20, Ailey 35, Powe 65, Dunne 70
