HANDSWORTH PARRAMORE LIFT THE CUP!
ARESPLENDENT Sandy Lane, home of Northern Counties East League Premier Division runners-up Handsworth Parramore, was the setting as they welcomed Western League champions Odd Down for the third staging of the Toolstation Cup – and, unfortunately for the visitors, they found Handsworth in excellent pre-season form as they were well beaten on the day.
It was Odd Down, however, who started quicker and, with skipper Troy Simpson and right winger Adnan Hiroli looking dangerous, the Handsworth back line had to be on their guard.
But Parramore rode out the early threat and, on 12 minutes, Alex Rippon burst into the box only to be upended.
With the referee in a good position, a penalty was given, which was calmly despatched by Danny Buttle.
Odd Down keeper Nick Yeo then made the first of numerous good saves when he palmed away a Tom Claisse drive for a corner, before Rippon burst through again but was pulled up for what seemed an innocuous challenge on Steve Bridges as he closed in on goal.
Odd Down rallied well and created their first chance when, after some dallying in the home box, Dave Gould shot from the edge of the area, forcing Arron Jameson into a stretching save.
It was end-to-end fare now, and some great work going forward by Colin Marrison released Buttle, who hot-footed it down the left before squaring to new signing Danny Holland.
He rolled in his first goal for Handsworth to double the lead after 22 minutes.
Rippon then went close twice as he enjoyed some success down the right in his battle with Bridges, firstly with a turn and shot over the bar and secondly when Yeo came charging off his line to grab the ball off the striker’s foot as he tried to round him.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Handsworth had to be aware of the pacy Odd Down front men, and the visitors should really have halved the deficit on 37 minutes when a half-cleared free-kick fell at the feet of Cory Simpson who lashed his effort wide. As the half came to a close, it was Odd Down who were having a good spell, albeit without forcing Jameson into action.
Any hopes they had of finding a way back into the game, however, were abruptly halted three minutes into the second half when a Handsworth break ended with Harry Bamforth’s goalbound effort being handled by Hiroli.
It earned the wide man a red card and Buttle stepped up again from the spot, but this time fired wide.
With the humid conditions beginning to take their toll, the ten men were finding it hard to keep pace with Parramore, who were playing around them with ease and creating chances at will. However, Yeo was in inspired form, making a number of eye-catching saves to deny Holland, Rippon, Dugdale and Marrison.
Both sides made good use of their five substitutes, and it was the third Simpson brother, Kye, who carried the biggest threat for Odd Down with some direct running.
With Dugdale and Higginson now on the field, along with last season’s NCEL leading scorers Froggatt and Wells, there was added pace up top for Handsworth, and the Down defence struggled to cope with the waves of attack. After holding out until the last eight minutes, they were eventually breached again when Marrison and Froggatt combined to release Kieran Wells, who scored in style.
The icing on the cake came two minutes later when Tom Dugdale was quickest to react in the box after a deflection to complete the scoring.
So, the Toolstation Cup remains in the North for another year after an impressive and clinical display by Handsworth.