LWC Drinks First Division Cup Final - Prestwich Heys 2 Cammell Laird 1907 1
Wed 9th May 2018 | The Edward Case Cup | By Ian Templeman
A stunning goal in stoppage time from John Main clinched victory for Prestwich Heys in a dramatic finale to this season's LWC Drinks First Division Cup final.
Jamie Baguley had given Heys a half time lead, but Lairds hit back and after Joe Malkin equalised eight minutes into the second half, it was the Merseysiders who had the better of the chances in the second half.
But just as it appeared that a penalty shoot out would be required to separate the teams, an incredible passage of play in stoppage time delivered an unforgettable ending to the evening.
As the game moved into the second of three minutes of added time, Heys John Main - only introduced as substitute in the 87th minute - picked up a pass on the right wing and unleashed an unstoppable shot that zipped into the net from 30 yards.
But the drama hadn't ended, as straight from the kick off Lairds went upfield, and twice came close to levelling in sensational fashion within the space of a few seconds.
First, Joe Malkin rifled in a 25 yard effort that beat Heys keeper Russell Saunders and rebounded off the post.
Following up, Matthew Carlin smashed the loose ball goalwards, but Saunders recovered quickly to get to his feet and make a quite amazing full length leap to push the ball away to safety.
Moments later the final whistle sounded, and the Heys celebrations began, but of course Lairds don't have long to wait before trying to avenge the defeat, as the two sides meet again at Adie Moran Park on Saturday, in the Division One play off semi-final.
Afterwards, Heys manager John Lyons paid tribute to both his goalscorer and goalkeeper.
"It was a goal fit to win any cup final, and the save at the end is one of the best saves I think I've ever seen at any level of football. I don't know how he's ended up pulling that one off", he said.
"No one likes to lose a cup final, and we'll enjoy this win and then look forward to Saturday's game. At the start of the season our priority was winning promotion, so the big one is on Saturday".
The first half began at a brisk pace. with both sides enjoying a share of possession as play swung from end to end.
Lairds had the first chance of the game on 5 minutes, when a cross from the right found Joe Malkin in space, but his header was gathered by Heys keeper Saunders.
Heys' first chance arrived on 17 minutes, when a neat through ball played Alfie Belcher in on goal, but his well struck shot from the edge of the box was saved by Matthew Lavelle in the Lairds goal.
But as the game approached the half hour mark, Heys took the lead.
Lairds full back Jay Thomas was penalised for a block on Darius Photiou on the right hand edge of the box, and Jamie Baguley drove in the free kick low towards the near post, which took a deflection off Lairds captain Mark Bainbridge on its way into the net.
However, Lairds finished the half strongly, and after a Josh Maldon effort was deflected for a corner and a Paul Jewell header just missed the target, centre back Matthew Carlin volleyed a shot across the face of goal from a Malkin flick on.
The half ended with another chance for Lairds, from a move which started on the edge of their own area and ended with Malkin setting up Maldon for a shot that flashed wide from 20 yards.
It had been a promising end to the half for Lairds and they began the second half by picking up where they left off.
Inside the first two minutes Maldon curled a free kick just over eth bar, and Malkin was denied by a fine blocking save by Heys keeper Saunders.
But eight minutes into the second half, Lairds finally made the breakthrough with a deep right wing cross from Thomas Murray finding Joe Malkin in the box, and the striker met the cross perfectly to head the equaliser into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later a dipping 35 yarder from Maldon just missed the target, but Lairds good work was almost undone when Heys spurned a great chance to edge ahead once again as the game approached the hour mark.
Great persistence from Rio Wilson-Heyes saw him win the ball in a tussle on the bye line, and he squared to the incoming Max White who blasted wide from 10 yards.
As the half wore on, the game continued to be played at a fast pace, although defences began to get on top and chances became fewer.
With just over 15 minutes left Lairds had the ball in the net after Mark Bainbridge headed in to the net from a Malden corner, but the referee ruled it out for an infringement, and as the game moved into the closing stages both sides used all three substitutes in an attempt to freshen up their attacks.
It paid off in grand style for Heys, as John Main proved to be their matchwinner with what was, as his manager said afterwards, a goal fit to win any cup final.
Prestwich Heys: Russell Saunders, Darius Photiou, Daneil Vincent, Max White, Jacob Holt, Jacob Wood (captain), Alfie Belcher, Jamie Baguley (John Main 87), Lee Bruce, Dominic Slaven (Lee Grimshaw 79), Rio Wilson-Heyes (Sven Gibson 90+2).
Substitutes not used: Carl Fitton, Mark Baguley
Cammell Laird 1907: Matthew Lavelle, Mark Bainbridge (captain), Jay Thomas, Matthew Carlin, Thomas Mitchell, Paul Jewell (Thomas Quinn 90), Joshua Maldon, Thomas Murray (Greg Drummond 87), Joseph Malkin, Ben Holmes (Charlie MacInnes 90), Daniel Cross.
Substitutes not used: Kynan Mason, Adam Rooney.
Referee: Alex Beckett
Assistants: Niall Eaves, Sohail Asghar
Fourth Official: Keith Martin
Heys are pictured below with the trophy. Photo courtesy of Paul Watson.
LWC Drinks First Division Cup Final - Prestwich Heys 2 Cammell Laird 1907 1
Wed 9th May 2018 | The Edward Case Cup
By Ian Templeman
A stunning goal in stoppage time from John Main clinched victory for Prestwich Heys in a dramatic finale to this season's LWC Drinks First Division Cup final.
Jamie Baguley had given Heys a half time lead, but Lairds hit back and after Joe Malkin equalised eight minutes into the second half, it was the Merseysiders who had the better of the chances in the second half.
But just as it appeared that a penalty shoot out would be required to separate the teams, an incredible passage of play in stoppage time delivered an unforgettable ending to the evening.
As the game moved into the second of three minutes of added time, Heys John Main - only introduced as substitute in the 87th minute - picked up a pass on the right wing and unleashed an unstoppable shot that zipped into the net from 30 yards.
But the drama hadn't ended, as straight from the kick off Lairds went upfield, and twice came close to levelling in sensational fashion within the space of a few seconds.
First, Joe Malkin rifled in a 25 yard effort that beat Heys keeper Russell Saunders and rebounded off the post.
Following up, Matthew Carlin smashed the loose ball goalwards, but Saunders recovered quickly to get to his feet and make a quite amazing full length leap to push the ball away to safety.
Moments later the final whistle sounded, and the Heys celebrations began, but of course Lairds don't have long to wait before trying to avenge the defeat, as the two sides meet again at Adie Moran Park on Saturday, in the Division One play off semi-final.
Afterwards, Heys manager John Lyons paid tribute to both his goalscorer and goalkeeper.
"It was a goal fit to win any cup final, and the save at the end is one of the best saves I think I've ever seen at any level of football. I don't know how he's ended up pulling that one off", he said.
"No one likes to lose a cup final, and we'll enjoy this win and then look forward to Saturday's game. At the start of the season our priority was winning promotion, so the big one is on Saturday".
The first half began at a brisk pace. with both sides enjoying a share of possession as play swung from end to end.
Lairds had the first chance of the game on 5 minutes, when a cross from the right found Joe Malkin in space, but his header was gathered by Heys keeper Saunders.
Heys' first chance arrived on 17 minutes, when a neat through ball played Alfie Belcher in on goal, but his well struck shot from the edge of the box was saved by Matthew Lavelle in the Lairds goal.
But as the game approached the half hour mark, Heys took the lead.
Lairds full back Jay Thomas was penalised for a block on Darius Photiou on the right hand edge of the box, and Jamie Baguley drove in the free kick low towards the near post, which took a deflection off Lairds captain Mark Bainbridge on its way into the net.
However, Lairds finished the half strongly, and after a Josh Maldon effort was deflected for a corner and a Paul Jewell header just missed the target, centre back Matthew Carlin volleyed a shot across the face of goal from a Malkin flick on.
The half ended with another chance for Lairds, from a move which started on the edge of their own area and ended with Malkin setting up Maldon for a shot that flashed wide from 20 yards.
It had been a promising end to the half for Lairds and they began the second half by picking up where they left off.
Inside the first two minutes Maldon curled a free kick just over eth bar, and Malkin was denied by a fine blocking save by Heys keeper Saunders.
But eight minutes into the second half, Lairds finally made the breakthrough with a deep right wing cross from Thomas Murray finding Joe Malkin in the box, and the striker met the cross perfectly to head the equaliser into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later a dipping 35 yarder from Maldon just missed the target, but Lairds good work was almost undone when Heys spurned a great chance to edge ahead once again as the game approached the hour mark.
Great persistence from Rio Wilson-Heyes saw him win the ball in a tussle on the bye line, and he squared to the incoming Max White who blasted wide from 10 yards.
As the half wore on, the game continued to be played at a fast pace, although defences began to get on top and chances became fewer.
With just over 15 minutes left Lairds had the ball in the net after Mark Bainbridge headed in to the net from a Malden corner, but the referee ruled it out for an infringement, and as the game moved into the closing stages both sides used all three substitutes in an attempt to freshen up their attacks.
It paid off in grand style for Heys, as John Main proved to be their matchwinner with what was, as his manager said afterwards, a goal fit to win any cup final.
Prestwich Heys: Russell Saunders, Darius Photiou, Daneil Vincent, Max White, Jacob Holt, Jacob Wood (captain), Alfie Belcher, Jamie Baguley (John Main 87), Lee Bruce, Dominic Slaven (Lee Grimshaw 79), Rio Wilson-Heyes (Sven Gibson 90+2).
Substitutes not used: Carl Fitton, Mark Baguley
Cammell Laird 1907: Matthew Lavelle, Mark Bainbridge (captain), Jay Thomas, Matthew Carlin, Thomas Mitchell, Paul Jewell (Thomas Quinn 90), Joshua Maldon, Thomas Murray (Greg Drummond 87), Joseph Malkin, Ben Holmes (Charlie MacInnes 90), Daniel Cross.
Substitutes not used: Kynan Mason, Adam Rooney.
Referee: Alex Beckett
Assistants: Niall Eaves, Sohail Asghar
Fourth Official: Keith Martin
Heys are pictured below with the trophy. Photo courtesy of Paul Watson.
