Honley have the edge in Barlow Cup finale
HONLEY won the District League Barlow Cup final 2-0 against Berry Brow at Emley’s Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.
While Honley have representation in the West Riding County Amateur League, it was their team playing in the in the same division of the Huddersfield District League as Berry Brow that won the final.
It could be argued Berry Brow went in as slight favourites, having beaten and drawn with Honley in their league matches this season, and also having finished the season as Division Two champions. But Honley emerged victorious. The League’s flagship final started as a very cagey affair with neither side able to get any real periods of consistent possession.
The first chances of any real note came from Berry Brow.
In the fifth minute a floated ball was crossed in but the header was easily gathered by the Honley keeper Dan Colbeck.
Another chance fell to Brow captain Ben Dobson on 10 minutes, but while he struck the ball well, it was always going just wide.
Honley’s first chance of the match fell to Kyle Silkstone after a free kick was met by a strong header which produced the first corner of the game.
The first half continued to be a struggle for either side to get into their stride but the forward players for both sides were always a handful for their opposing defences, with Brow’s Dean Siddiq always looking to chase and hold the ball up for his supporting midfielders.
And the pace of Dylan Brett was always a threat for Honley.
The second half started a little more openly and Honley looked bright – a flick-on from a cross by Ricky Howe allowed Dylan Brett a shot on goal but he dragged it wide.
Berry Brow’s first chance of the second half came from John McAliskey, whose header fell just wide from a long diagonal cross.
The deadlock was broken 12 minutes into the second half, though, as Ben Lindley cut inside and curled a lovely right-footed shot home from 20 yards out.
After going behind, Berry Brow tried to get back on level terms and a persistent run from Dobson allowed him a chance, but unfortunately it came to nothing as the advancing keeper smothered the final touch.
Tempers threatened to overflow on 72 minutes as a niggly challenge brought players from both sides together, but good refereeing from Arnie Thorpe allowed the situation to diffuse without bookings.
Berry Brow freshened their lineup with a couple of substitutions and the fresh legs allowed them a bit more possession, but all they could manage was a corner after a Dobson free kick which fell loose in the box and was turned away by Honley.
With just six minutes left, Honley sealed the result with a second.
Brett broke away from the halfway line and was able to beat his defender for pace and calmly place a left-foot shot into the bottom corner from just inside the area.
This was the icing on the cake for Honley and especially for Brett, as he was able to seal his man-ofthe-match performance with a goal.
The match was played in good spirits and fiercely contested with Honley taking their chances and sealing their first Barlow Cup victory since 1996. The match officials at the Barlow Cup final (from left) Stephen Bottom (fourth official), Steve Crawshaw (assistant), Ronnie Cushing (retiring appointment secretary), Arnie Thorpe (referee) and Stephen Rushworth (assistant)