Halton Sports league and cup double secured with win against rivals
6:11am Thursday 22nd May 2008
HALTON Sports football team have completed a league and cup double.
They defeated rivals Cheshire Hawthorne 2-1 in Friday's Dennis Scholes Challenge Cup Final at Victoria Park, Warrington.
And that followed being crowned Warrington Sunday Football League champions.
Manager Frank Cannon has guided the club to the double after having a six-year break from the game since winning several honours with Helsby BICC.
Sports had clinched the league title the previous week after Hawthorne, close rivals in the league, drew 2-2 with Oak Tree Jacks, meaning they could not catch Sports.
The final was nicely set up with Hawthorne seeking revenge.
Sports, however, were looking to win the cup for the first time.
Hawthorne missed the first chance of the game with Rob Hanley firing over from 12 yards.
Sports took a while to get into their stride and scored with their first sniff of goal after the impressive Liam Page found Gary Tyrrell, who clipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to the joy of the large following of support from Runcorn.
Good work from man of the match Tony Ennis down the left hand side created the next opening.
He found Alan Bond, whose effort was deflected narrowy wide of the post.
Just before half time, Hawthorne levelled against the run of play after Mike Maloney was adjudged to have felled Hawthorne midfielder Leon Goulden.
He dusted himself down to send Kevin Bradshaw the wrong way and level the match.
The second half became scrappy, with both teams not wanting to make the mistake which could swing the game.
Page sent a long-range effort towards Craig Clare in the Hawthorne goal, who tipped the ball over via the crossbar.
Mike Braniff then produced a goal-line clearance to deny Hawthorne taking the lead after a goal-mouth scramble.
Lee Mitchell was brought on for Sports for injured Bond and played a major part in the winner.
He won a tackle in midfield, sending the ball to Gareth Gerrard who poked a 25-yard effort goalwards.
The ball came back off the crossbar to the feet of Gary Lunt, who smashed home with five minutes remaining.
Sports: Bradshaw, Braniff, Cannon, Maloney, Page, Ennis, Smith, Lunt, Gerrard, Bond (Mitchell 75mins), Tyrrell. Unused subs: Whitehead, McGreggor..