Hargreaves have name added to Cup
WEST Didsbury and Chorlton FC were again excellent hosts for two more L and C finals with both matches going to penalty shoot-outs
A new name was engraved on the L and C’s Whitehead Cup sponsored by Peak Business Solutions.
The trophy which has been played for over 70 years in the league in various competitions and for the second year was competed for by teams in divisions A and B.
It featured two relatively new teams to the league in Hargreaves Bury and Village Manchester who were both all out to enjoy their first L and C final.
Goals were hard to come by in this encounter with Hargreaves creating more chances before the deadlock was finally broken on 85 minutes following a corner.
It needed the sharp eyes of linesman Bill Hines to see that the scrambled shot from Lewis Studholme had crossed the line to give Hargreaves the lead.
But Village were not to be denied as they dominated the closing stages and in the first minute of injury time they drew level again following a corner from James Wilson to force the penalty shoot-out.
Hargreaves kept their nerve to win 3-2, after the woodwork had been struck three times to win their first L and C trophy.
Three days later it was the turn of two new teams in the league Dom Doyle from Tameside and Irlam Tigers to compete for the Wray Cup, played for by teams in divisions two and three.
Both teams had been neck and neck throughout the season in division three with Dom Doyle clinching the title from the Tigers.
Dom Doyle had slightly the better of the game being denied by the wood work and a stunning save from Tigers keeper Tom Richardson.
Dom Doyle were reduced to ten men with a red card after 75 minutes but more than held their own to keep the score sheet blank and force the penalty shoot out.
Then Dom Doyle keeper Jordan Monks proved to be their hero with two stunning saves and with his team scoring all of their first four kicks they and their supporters were able to celebrate in style.
In the Premier League there was a tasty rehearsal of the Rhodes Cup final with the top two playing each other and an entertaining game between champions Moorside Rangers and runners-up High Lane ended with honours even at 3-3.
Moorside trailed 0-3 but goals from Jones, Kelly and Fraser earned them a point and showed their powers of recovery.
In Division One Milton clinched the runners-up spot behind champions Waterloo with a 4-0 win at Parrs Wood Celtic as main rivals Trafford United slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Chorltonians.
The other game in the division produced a 0-0 deadlock between Bury Ams and Parrs Wood Celtic.
Division Three champions Dom Doyle paid for overcelebrating their Wray Cup win as they lost out 2-1 hosting Heaton Mersey.
Division A champions Stoconians seconds were also beaten by 3-2 at Abacus Media seconds while Mellor thirds won 5-0 against Village Manchester.
Stoconians fourths took the division D title after a great match with title rivals AFC Stockport who needed a victory to keep up their hopes.
It looked good for them as they 2-1 at the break with two strikes from Adam Wilcox topping Stocs goal from Jack Longworth.
AFC extended this to 3-1 through Bradley Ball but Stocs roared to the title with a neat header from Jamie Olluieur and a penalty from Jamie Shawcross picking up the point they needed.