Division Two Trophy Final

Division Two Trophy Final

Kirkham & Wesham 1 Bootle 0

A goal from Ritchie Allen in the 72nd minute clinched victory for Kirkham & Wesham in the final of the Division Two Trophy at Trafford’s Shaw View ground on the 24th April.

It was a closely fought game which was never a classic, but the exemplary endeavour, commitment and sportsmanship from both sides provided an engrossing encounter for the noisy and enthusiastic crowd.

 

After a couple of half chances for Bootle in the opening stages, the first major talking point arose in the 10th minute, and unfortunately it was an incident that nobody would have wanted to witness in any game, let alone a cup final.

As a long ball was played into the Bootle penalty area, centre backs Neil McQueen and Michael Carberry both went to clear, and the sickening clash of heads that followed left both players flat out on the floor.

Both physios raced on to the pitch to attend to the stricken pair, and after a five minute stoppage Carberry was on his feet and able to continue. McQueen, however, was clearly in distress and had to be helped from the field as substitute Steve King entered the fray.

It was an incident that took the sting out of the game for a few minutes, and it wasn’t until the midway point of the half that the first clear chance was created. Kirkham’s Paul Eastwood played the ball to Phil Blackwell on the edge of the box, and the striker’s shot beat Bootle keeper Mark Mawdsley and crashed off the woodwork.

On the half hour mark, almost incredibly we had another head clash at the other end, this time Kirkham’s Phil Thompson and Jon Moffatt being the unfortunate duo, but to everyone’s relief both were soon on their feet and ready to resume.

The first half was played out without either keeper being seriously tested, and that pattern continued in the early stages of the second half, before Phil Thompson sent a glancing header just wide of the post ten minutes in.

Bootle responded and after Jamie Rainford set up Chris Tyson for a 25 yard effort that flew wide, Jamie Hay tried his luck from outside the box but Kirkham keeper Pete Summerfield made a comfortable save.

However, what turned out to be the clinching goal arrived in the 72nd minute. A terrific cross from Phil Blackwell on the right flank found Ritchie Allen at the far post, and he glanced a header into the far corner of the net from eight yards.

As Bootle pressed forward in search of an equaliser, Kirkham introduced the pacy Matt Walwyn for goalscorer Allen with ten minutes remaining, and the youngster twice broke clear on counter attacks late on, but shot wide from the edge of the box on both occasions.

Bootle had one last throw of the dice in stoppage time, when Jamie Rainford found space on the left flank and set up Liam Loughlin for a shot from the edge of the box, but Summerfield dealt comfortably with the effort and seconds later the final whistle sounded to confirm victory for Kirkham & Wesham.

After match quotes:

Kirkham &Wesham manager Mick Fuller: “I’m pleased for the lads as they worked hard. I thought that we looked very heavy legged but that is down to the number of games we’ve played recently.

“It wasn’t a great game, it was a case of two sides working hard and cancelling one another out and there wasn’t a great deal in it. I said to the lads before the game that Bootle along with New Mills are the best two sides we’ve faced in this league, and we were ready for a tough game.

“As it turned out, Bootle won a lot of second balls, and balls in the air, and it was very tight throughout. It took a good goal to win the game, Ritchie Allen got a good head on the ball from a good cross. Naturally I’m pleased we’ve won our first trophy in this league and hopefully it’s the first one of many.”

 

Kirkham & Wesham chairman Dai Davis: “It was a game where both defences played well, and from early on it looked like the game would be decided either on a mistake or by a piece of good play. As it turned out, the only goal of the game came from good play which is what people want to see.

“It was a hard fought game, not a game you’d call a classic, but we saw two teams totally committed and all the players deserve credit for their performances.

“I feel sorry for Bootle, they ran us very close, but obviously I’m delighted for ourselves and it’s great to get our first trophy in the league. I’d settle for the same score at Wembley in the Vase final.”

Bootle chairman Frank Doran: “It was always close, and the proof of that for me is that neither keeper really had a save to make. On the goal our defence sat a little bit deep and allowed the lad to get a header in, and he picked the perfect spot just out of the reach of our keeper. I think it had gone anywhere else other than where he put it, our keeper would have got it.

“I thought we were on top for a good part of the game but we never created much in their box. We were guilty of putting too many high balls into the box, and with the big lads Kirkham had at the back we made it easy for them

“Looking on the positive side, it’s a nice experience to be involved in a cup final, and while it’s disappointing to lose a cup final, it’s not as bad as losing in a semi final.”

Bootle manager Chris O’Brien: “There was no lack of effort from both sides. It was one great cross to the far post that did us, the lad got above our defence and put it away, and to be fair it was a good goal.

“Kirkham are a good side. They keep the ball well when they have to, press the ball in the right areas, and they are well organised, which you’d expect from a team that is on its way to Wembley. From that point of view we can’t be too disappointed.

“It was soul destroying to see our two centre halves clash heads so early in the game, and for us to lose our skipper Neil McQueen as a result. He travelled all the way here from Birmingham this afternoon where he was working, he left just after four and didn’t get here until about seven o’clock. He was distraught when he had to come off, he was really upset.

“We’re disappointed obviously, but we’re a close knit bunch of lads, we’re all Bootle born and bred and we’ll bounce back. You have to remember that it’s only our second season back in the league, and we’ll keep working hard to get to where we want to be.”

Match Stats:

Team line ups:

Kirkham & Wesham: Peter Summerfield, Dougie Shaw (captain), Allan Jackson, Phil Thompson, Jon Moffatt, Paul Eastwood, Mike Clark, Ritchie Allen (Matt Walwyn 80), Phil Blackwell, Mark Wane, Sean Paterson (Ged Smith 68).

Subs not used: James Sheppard, Paul Paynter, Martin Savigar.

Goal: Ritchie Allen 72 minutes.

Bootle: Mark Mawdsley, Joe Doran, Carl Dale (John Martin 68), Neil McQueen (captain) (Steve King 14), Michael Carberry, Liam Loughlin, Chris Tyson, Jamie Hay, Dan O’Connor (Paul Hopkins 76), Andy Fowler, Jamie Rainford.

Subs not used: Robbie Boardman, Kevin Black.

Referee: Rob Goodwin-Davey (Bolton)

Assistants: Lauren Bridge (West Kirby), Roger King (Burnley)

4th Official: Mark Corns (Burnley)

Attendance: 277

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