Edward Case Cup Final
Fri 20th May 2022 | The Edward Case Cup | By Martin Fallon
Tomorrow afternoon brings the curtain down on the 2021/22 North West Counties Football League season as our last Cup Final is played when FC Isle of Man and Cammell Laird 1907 contest the First Division (Edward Case) Cup Final.
The game will see history made for two reasons. Firstly it will be the first time that one of our two major Cup Finals has ever taken place off the mainland in our 40 year history, with the game taking place at The Bowl on the Isle of Man by virtue of FC Isle of Man finishing higher in the table of the two finalists. Secondly, it will see a new name crowned as winners with the victors becoming the 28th different winner of the competition in what is the 31st running of the competition. For note, only AFC Liverpool, Formby and Sandbach United have won it twice, whilst 1907's predessor club Cammell Laird lifted the cup in 2005.
For FC Isle of Man, the game presents the opportunity of more silverware after lifting the First Division South Play Off Trophy last month, gaining promotion to the Premier Division in the process. As for Cammell Laird 1907, it is a quick opportunity for them to put behind them last weekend's Macron Cup Final defeat, and this will be their second First Division Cup Final after losing to Prestwich Heys in the 2017/18 Final.
So, lets recap on the competition so far.....
The First Round of the competition was regionalised and saw both Cammell Laird 1907 and FC Isle of Man get a bye to the next round. This is because there are 40 teams in the two First Divisions, so we need just eight ties in which to get down to the last 32 stage. Highlight of the round was a 6-1 win for St Helens Town at home to Bacup Borough, with Elliot Hughes scoring a hat-trick. Other big scores saw Ellesmere Rangers win 5-0 at St Martins, with Stafford Town beating Brocton 4-1. Sam Knowles also fired in a hat-trick for AFC Darwen in their 3-2 win against Nelson.
The Second Round was also regionalised, with FC Isle of Man travelling to Cheadle Town and Cammell Laird 1907 travelling to Barnton. For Isle of Man it took until the 77th minute for Nathan Cardy to put them ahead at Cheadle, with Ronan McDonnell rounding off the victory with the second just two minutes from time. For Lairds, a Kieran Hamm penalty on the quarter hour gave them the lead only for William Avon to level just before the break. Another penalty, this time from Jay Harvey ten minutes from time, secured the win for Lairds.
One stand out result from the Second Round was Cheadle Heath Nomads' 6-1 win over New Mills, with Daniel McLaughlin scoring four for the Nomads. The vast majority of the other games were settled by the odd goal though, with Ashton Town, Golcar United, Stafford Town, West Didsbury & Chorlton and Wythenshawe Amateurs all even needing penalties to progress through.
The Third Round saw Cammell Laird 1907 given a walkover after Stafford Town could not raise a team for the game. FC Isle of Man travelled to Sandbach United, who had won this competition the previous two years it had taken place. It was the home side who took the lead midway through the first half through Ryan Rogers, with Jamie Corlett levelling five minutes later. Ronan McDonnell's goal ten minutes into the second half sealed a 2-1 win for FC Isle of Man.
Once again it was a close round, with every game decided by the odd goal.
Into the Quarter Finals and FC Isle of Man and Cammell Laird 1907 both turned up the gas as they scored four goals away from home to progress, although both had to come from behind to do so.
At AFC Darwen, an Own Goal gave the home side the lead at half time, only for a second half masterclass to see FC Isle of Man through. Nathan Cardy levelled five minutes into the half with Adam Cooil quickly putting the Ravens ahead. Stephen Whitley made it 3-1 with 20 minutes to go and it was Whitley who made it four in the last minute of the game. Lairds were at Wythenshawe Amateurs with a Saul Henderson double putting them two goals ahead with just 12 minutes on the clock. Jay Harvey levelled just before the break and then restored parity with a penalty on 57 minutes. He completed his hat-trick five minutes from time to give Lairds the lead and Kieron Frost secured the win three minutes into stoppage time.
Into the Semi Finals, and as you would expect they were both close affairs. None more so than Cammell Laird 1907 who were at home to Ilkley Town. Nathan Hunt gave Ilkley the lead on 20 minutes with Kieran Hamm levelling four minutes from the break. Hunt then restored Ilkley's lead before Ryan Smith levelled on the hour. There were no further goals, with Lairds eventually progressing to the Final after a 5-4 win on penalties.
As for FC Isle of Man, they hosted Holker Old Boys at home in the battle of the two First Division runners-up this season. Samuel Joel put Old Boys ahead just after the half hour with Jamie Corlett levelling on 56 minutes. Not for the first time, the home side left it late but they secured their place in the Final thanks to an 88th minute winner from Nathan Cardy.
Congratulations to both clubs for reaching the Final this season, particularly as the competition has been an end of season affair with not a lot of time to prepare for games. The Final should be a great affair, and we wish both sides the best of luck.
A reminder that the game will be played at FC Isle of Man's The Bowl, which is by virtue of FC Isle of Man finishing higher in the league. Ordinarily we would host Finals on a neutral ground but with the league campaign the most important thing this year as Covid-19 eased, this was not possible. Hopefully cup competitions can return as normal next season with neutral grounds for the Finals.
Edward Case Cup Final
Fri 20th May 2022 | The Edward Case Cup
By Martin Fallon
Tomorrow afternoon brings the curtain down on the 2021/22 North West Counties Football League season as our last Cup Final is played when FC Isle of Man and Cammell Laird 1907 contest the First Division (Edward Case) Cup Final.
The game will see history made for two reasons. Firstly it will be the first time that one of our two major Cup Finals has ever taken place off the mainland in our 40 year history, with the game taking place at The Bowl on the Isle of Man by virtue of FC Isle of Man finishing higher in the table of the two finalists. Secondly, it will see a new name crowned as winners with the victors becoming the 28th different winner of the competition in what is the 31st running of the competition. For note, only AFC Liverpool, Formby and Sandbach United have won it twice, whilst 1907's predessor club Cammell Laird lifted the cup in 2005.
For FC Isle of Man, the game presents the opportunity of more silverware after lifting the First Division South Play Off Trophy last month, gaining promotion to the Premier Division in the process. As for Cammell Laird 1907, it is a quick opportunity for them to put behind them last weekend's Macron Cup Final defeat, and this will be their second First Division Cup Final after losing to Prestwich Heys in the 2017/18 Final.
So, lets recap on the competition so far.....
The First Round of the competition was regionalised and saw both Cammell Laird 1907 and FC Isle of Man get a bye to the next round. This is because there are 40 teams in the two First Divisions, so we need just eight ties in which to get down to the last 32 stage. Highlight of the round was a 6-1 win for St Helens Town at home to Bacup Borough, with Elliot Hughes scoring a hat-trick. Other big scores saw Ellesmere Rangers win 5-0 at St Martins, with Stafford Town beating Brocton 4-1. Sam Knowles also fired in a hat-trick for AFC Darwen in their 3-2 win against Nelson.
The Second Round was also regionalised, with FC Isle of Man travelling to Cheadle Town and Cammell Laird 1907 travelling to Barnton. For Isle of Man it took until the 77th minute for Nathan Cardy to put them ahead at Cheadle, with Ronan McDonnell rounding off the victory with the second just two minutes from time. For Lairds, a Kieran Hamm penalty on the quarter hour gave them the lead only for William Avon to level just before the break. Another penalty, this time from Jay Harvey ten minutes from time, secured the win for Lairds.
One stand out result from the Second Round was Cheadle Heath Nomads' 6-1 win over New Mills, with Daniel McLaughlin scoring four for the Nomads. The vast majority of the other games were settled by the odd goal though, with Ashton Town, Golcar United, Stafford Town, West Didsbury & Chorlton and Wythenshawe Amateurs all even needing penalties to progress through.
The Third Round saw Cammell Laird 1907 given a walkover after Stafford Town could not raise a team for the game. FC Isle of Man travelled to Sandbach United, who had won this competition the previous two years it had taken place. It was the home side who took the lead midway through the first half through Ryan Rogers, with Jamie Corlett levelling five minutes later. Ronan McDonnell's goal ten minutes into the second half sealed a 2-1 win for FC Isle of Man.
Once again it was a close round, with every game decided by the odd goal.
Into the Quarter Finals and FC Isle of Man and Cammell Laird 1907 both turned up the gas as they scored four goals away from home to progress, although both had to come from behind to do so.
At AFC Darwen, an Own Goal gave the home side the lead at half time, only for a second half masterclass to see FC Isle of Man through. Nathan Cardy levelled five minutes into the half with Adam Cooil quickly putting the Ravens ahead. Stephen Whitley made it 3-1 with 20 minutes to go and it was Whitley who made it four in the last minute of the game. Lairds were at Wythenshawe Amateurs with a Saul Henderson double putting them two goals ahead with just 12 minutes on the clock. Jay Harvey levelled just before the break and then restored parity with a penalty on 57 minutes. He completed his hat-trick five minutes from time to give Lairds the lead and Kieron Frost secured the win three minutes into stoppage time.
Into the Semi Finals, and as you would expect they were both close affairs. None more so than Cammell Laird 1907 who were at home to Ilkley Town. Nathan Hunt gave Ilkley the lead on 20 minutes with Kieran Hamm levelling four minutes from the break. Hunt then restored Ilkley's lead before Ryan Smith levelled on the hour. There were no further goals, with Lairds eventually progressing to the Final after a 5-4 win on penalties.
As for FC Isle of Man, they hosted Holker Old Boys at home in the battle of the two First Division runners-up this season. Samuel Joel put Old Boys ahead just after the half hour with Jamie Corlett levelling on 56 minutes. Not for the first time, the home side left it late but they secured their place in the Final thanks to an 88th minute winner from Nathan Cardy.
Congratulations to both clubs for reaching the Final this season, particularly as the competition has been an end of season affair with not a lot of time to prepare for games. The Final should be a great affair, and we wish both sides the best of luck.
A reminder that the game will be played at FC Isle of Man's The Bowl, which is by virtue of FC Isle of Man finishing higher in the league. Ordinarily we would host Finals on a neutral ground but with the league campaign the most important thing this year as Covid-19 eased, this was not possible. Hopefully cup competitions can return as normal next season with neutral grounds for the Finals.
