Mellor seal the double at final
ALONG and occasionally difficult season for the league and its clubs reached its finale with the playing of the delayed Whitehead Cup final.
This competition features teams in divisions A and B and Sale Ams, with their great facility on the Costa del Mersey, provided excellent support and were superb and friendly hosts both on and off the pitch.
Through to the final were Mellor thirds, who were winners of division B by a long margin, and Flixton JFC from division A who have produced an exciting and fast-playing young team.
In full and calm control on the pitch were L and C referee of the season, Hyde-based Paul Grange, and his three experienced assistants, with the players responding superbly throughout a close and enthralling contest with plenty of drama in the closing minutes.
Both teams defended well and clear-cut chances were few and far between after Mellor took the lead on seven minutes with a typically clinical finish from their inspirational captain Danny Liebrick.
The game ebbed and flowed with no more goals added until the 80th minute when a horrendous accidental clash of heads brought the game to a temporary halt with blood flowing from the heads of both players.
They were given temporary treatment by their officials and excellent helpers from Sale Ams until the arrival of an emergency ambulance.
The paramedics dealt with both injuries and eventually took the Mellor player to hospital for further treatment with the Flixton player fit enough to watch the rest of the game from the touchline.
When play resumed for the last 10 minutes Flixton put in every effort to draw level, but solid defending by Mellor took them across the line to complete a memorable league and cup double.
The presentation ceremony was conducted by L and C legend Keith Marsden who first presented division one runners-up medals to Sale Ams officials and then referee Paul
Grange with his Referee of the Year award.
Flixton were given deserved applause by Mellor and all of the spectators as they collected their runners-up medals.
Then up stepped Danny Liebrick and his team to receive their medals and the Whitehead Cup before celebrating in style.
L and C chairman Mike Yates gave deserved thanks to all at Sale Ams for being greats hosts and to both teams for a display of how football should be played at this grassroots level and to all the L and C officials for their hard work.