MATCH ROUND UP W/E 5.5.12

A week of cup finals ended on Friday night when Maghull retained the Pyke Cup thanks to their 3-0 defeat of Ellesmere Port at Vauxhall Motors F.C. The Port had slightly the better of the early stages but with defences generally in control the 1st major threat on goal arrived on 32 minutes when Maghull’s Sam Wilkie brought a good save out of Bob McLaughlin. Shortly afterwards his side took the lead when Lee Tynan just beat Mark Price to the ball and steered it home. Within a minute Port almost leveled only for their shot to hit the post and on the stroke of halftime it was 2-0 when a Maghull free kick was floated into the box only for Port’s Nick Geddis to inadvertently head the ball past his own keeper. The majority of 2nd half possession was in the Maghull’s favour and although Port introduced 3 substitutes in attempt to change things, Joe Brownrigg’s boys went 3 up with 16 minutes remaining as Mike Cummins latched on to a through ball before picking his spot. Port’s cause wasn’t helped when Ben Harvey was shown a 2nd yellow card and Maghull went on to claim a 2nd consecutive 3-0 Pyke Cup final success.
A 37th minute goal by Ryan Smith was enough to see Runcorn Linnets Reserves lift the Haworth & Gallagher Bowl at the expense of a battling Heswall Reserves outfit at Vauxhall Motors F.C. on Wednesday night. Linnets made most of the early running but it was Heswall who came closest to scoring when Lee Moores beat Linnets offside trap before sending a shot against the inside of the post. Linnets grabbed the all important goal after Heswall keeper Kevin Price parried a fierce Josh Smith shot allowing Ryan Smith to score from close range. Just before the break, Heswall’s veteran striker, Jock Harrison, saw his header well saved by Neil Percival. Heswall were more of an attacking force after the break and Harrison’s ability in the air again forced Percival to be at his best. Towards the end Harrison had a headed effort cleared off the line and in the dying seconds striker Lewis Buckley performed a similar act to ensure that the trophy went to Linnets. .
On the previous evening, Helsby staged a stirring fightback to overhaul a 2 goal deficit and go on to defeat Mossley Hill Athletic Reserves in an absorbing Complete Focus Shield final at Runcorn Linnets F.C. Mossley had taken a shock 1st minute lead when Phil Duncan fired home and they added a 2nd just before the half hour mark when a left side corner was deflected into his own net by a Helsby defender. Straight from the restart Helsby hit back by forcing a flag kick of their own which was guided home by Wes Huizer. On the stroke of half time Helsby were level when a shot came back off the post onto a Mossley player and into the net. Boosted by this success, and with Ian Cox pulling the strings in midfield, Helsby took 2nd half control and were rewarded in the 55th minute when Jay Edwards blasted a partially cleared corner into the roof of the net. Twenty minutes remained when Helsby sealed a 4-2 victory as the persistence of the Huizer saw him score from close range.
Lower Breck Boys lifted their 2nd cup trophy of the season courtesy of overcoming Hale Youth, 2-1, in the final of the Liverpool FA Under 18’s Youth Cup Final at Walton Lane. All 3 goals arrived from set pieces; with Breck taking a 15th minute lead when Tom Davies flicked home a left wing corner. Brecks more purposeful approach had given them a 1st half edge but after the break Hale began to pose a few problems of their own and regained parity in the 67th minute when Bradley Williams pounced following a free kick. Sixteen minutes before the end Breck grabbed the winner when, in a vain attempt to clear a corner, a Hale defender sliced the ball past his own keeper.
Ashville added the Wirral Senior Cup to their Division 1 championship when defeating Heswall 3-0 at Cammell Lairds on Tuesday. The Wallasey side held a 1-0 interval lead after Chris Barrow had followed up a Josh Duress shot and he went on to claim a 2nd after the break. Duress himself added a 3rd with a fine effort before the end.