Abridge claimed the FA Trophy on Friday evening, seeing off Lewis 2:1 in the final at Wembley. The result ends a run of mixed fortunes for the hosts, who had drawn two of their last five before backing it up with a clean sheet on Tuesday. Lewis arrive on the back of a draw against Crey Wanderers but could not hold their ground against a side that found a way back into it when needed.
The match played out in fragments, the sort of game where the old head settled things down rather than any sustained pressure. By then the teams had already shown what they could do in transition, though the wind ruined any passing game for stretches. Abridge were second to everything in the opening exchanges but switched to a back three and carved them open when it mattered.
There were no statistics to speak of beyond the scoreline, and that is not unusual for a final where the line has barely moved. What matters is the three-act structure of these deciders: tension, a moment, then relief. Lewis were on the brink of a move but Abridge held firm, and the result tells you everything about who wanted it more.
The victory keeps Abridge unbeaten in five across all competitions and puts them on the brink of a move up the table. Lewis drop to fourth in their league, though the table says nothing yet with zero games and zero points logged. The history between them adds an edge to what could have been a routine afternoon, but routine it was not.
For the supporters, it is a night to remember. Abridge ground out the win after a season of near-misses, while Lewis bottled it when they had the chance. The trophy goes home with the hosts, and the rest is just noise.
