THE LANDLORD'S TROPHY FINAL PRODUCED A SHOCK WITH JUNK OLD BOYS OVERCOMING FIRM FAVOURITES, CHEQUERFIELD FC, IN THIS THRILLING MATCH THAT WENT DOWN TO THE WIRE WITH A PENALTY SHOOTOUT AFTER EXTRA-TIME SEPARATING THE TWO COMPETITIVE SIDES.

Landlords Trophy Final of the Wakefield & District Sunday Football League - Sunday 30th April 2023.

Chequerfield FC vs Junk Old Boys FC (1-1 AET). Junk Old Boys won 5-3 on penalties

Chequerfield FC's quadruple chance got derailed in a dramatic and a shock defeat at the hands of Junk Old Boys in the Landlords Trophy Final of the Wakefield & District Sunday Football League, played at the Nostell MW venue, which was concluded in a penalty shootout at the end of extra-time with the score tied at 1-1 with both goals coming in the first and the second period of extra time.

First chance fell to Chequerfield in the 6th minute with Kyle Fish finding Regan Fish whose long-range effort forced Junk Old Boys goalkeeper Luke Jagger into a full-length diving save. Three minutes later, a long pass from deep inside his own half by Junk Old Boys defender James Manning found industrious midfielder George Whittaker who broke clear before sending in a rasping effort over the bar.

The long ball tactic deployed by the JOB's in the opening half was causing the Chequerfield side some problems with the pace of livewire striker Tom Clarke a constant threat. Chequerfield suffered a huge jolt with the loss of their goalkeeper Dylan Hutchinson in the 14th minute of the game with a knee injury and was replaced by on field defender Nathan Garfoot.

The match developed into a tit for tat affair with actions at both ends. Tom Clarke saw his header hit the Chequerfield's frame of the goal while at the other end a well-worked counter-break saw Finlay Gill find James Earley whose surging run wide on the left-flank ended with his flashing effort across the Junk Old Boys face of the goal evade his supporting team mates.

The frame of the goal was again to deny Junk Old Boys in the 32nd minute when a corner-kick from the right by Harrison Watson forced a weak clearance in the path of George Whittaker whose thunderous effort crashed against the crossbar before it was cleared to safety.

Chequerfield lifted their game and saw an effort cleared off the line by Rob Bartram before Stuart Garbutt found James Earley who sent in a curling effort just off the mark before his stunning drive thundered against the frame of the goal, bounced down and saw Junk Old Boys glad to hear the half time whistle.

Chequerfield were more purposeful in the second-half and forced the defensive line of Kaylem Billy, James Manning, Rob Bartram and Harrison Watson to work overtime with captain Tom Barber marshalling his side well through a difficult period.

The momentum of Chequerfield's sustained pressure was disrupted on the hour mark with the game stopped for approximately 20 minutes due to a hamstring injury sustained by assistant referee Peter Walker who was soon replaced by a qualified referee from the stand.

Before the Chequerfield could re-group and pick up their momentum, Junk Old Boys threatened to steal the march with goal-bound efforts from George Whittaker and substitute Ben Carrington forcing stand-in goalkeeper Nathan Garfoot saves at the expense of corners as the game remained scoreless and forced into extra-time.

A tense and fatigued last 30 minutes of this gruelling final saw Old Junk Boys break the deadlock in the first period of extra-time when a charging run on the right-flank by Tom Clarke forced a corner and the resultant corner saw substitute Ben Carrington get the vital header amongst a forest of bodies to give his side a 1-0 lead.

A late flurry by Chequerfield at the end of the first period of extra time saw the Old Junk Boys defend in numbers as they lived dangerously without conceding despite their goalkeeper Jagger needing prolonged attention from a robust challenge.

Chequerfield used all their experience of having lost only one league game all season and resolve managed to breach Junk Old Boys resistance late in the second period od extra time when a clever crossfield pass from the right to the left by Kris Sleight found James Earley whose effort across the goal saw the ball agonisingly roll past the diving goalkeeper and over the line at the far post to force the final into a penalty-shootout.

The day belonged to Junk Old Boys to lift the prestigious Landlords Trophy winning the penalty shootout scoring all five of their penalties with Chequerfield scoring three of their first three spot-kick and missing their fourth which was to prove costly.

Junk Old Boys spot-kick scorer's were: Rob Bartram, Ricardo Ianzito, George Whittaker, James Capewell and the decisive spot-kick winning goal by Ben Carrington.

Chequerfield goal scorers in the penalty shootout were: Kyle Fish, Brett Smith and Robert Anderson.

The match balls were sponsored by Lightwaves Leisuer & Community Centre.

Man of the match, sponsored by Pennines Trophies (Heckmondwike), went to Old Junk Boys midfielder, George Whittaker.