Mersey Harps have defeated Huyton Stanley 3-2 to snatch the title off their opponents on the last day of the season!

Mersey Harps have defeated Huyton Stanley 3-2 to snatch the title off their opponents on the last day of the season!

Founded in 2009, the club have never before won the title; their closest year being the 2020 COVID season, when prior to lockdown they were unbeaten, before the league was officially null and voided.

But an 83rd-minute winner from Conal Quigley pushed them two points ahead of their counterparts, within touching distance, or seven minutes, of the title. They did manage to hold on and earned a hard-fought victory when it mattered most.

Harps Manager Eamonn Harkin was delighted with the result, saying: “It’s hard to take in really. I thought their tales were up, and to be honest you’re looking for a lucky break at the end, and we got it.

“But we don’t stop here; the seconds have two cup finals coming up. The club is also representing Ireland in the World in One City, so onwards and upwards.”

Being in such a close title race, he also added: “Ourselves, Huyton and Ramblers have been close all season so commiserations to them.”

Terry McCann, one of the coaches at the club, said: “It's a fantastic achievement for the boys. Fabulous squad of players and just all year they’ve been very consistent.

“There were a couple of defeats early in the season and then before Christmas, they went on a fantastic run, they’ve just been able to maintain their standard in what's been a very competitive league.”

The story of the game was about as dramatic as you’d expect in the circumstances too.

The Harps took the lead 20-minutes in, with Abdul Azeez working hard on the right flank to win the ball back, before putting a low cross into the box, where Liam Clarke was on hand to convert from close range. It then took until the 53rd minute for them to double their advantage.

It was Aaron Doherty on the right wing getting a low ball into the box that was missed by both defender and goalkeeper, leaving Azeez with an easy finish for himself this time.

They must’ve thought they’d all but won it, but Huyton Stanley were not done yet.

10 minutes after making it two, Mersey Harps conceded a true screamer from 25 yards out into the top left, and then another 10 minutes later, they conceded a second.

This time it was Joe Noon converting from close range to claim his astounding 28th goal in 18 games in the league, and 40th in all competitions this season.

At 2-2, it would be Huyton Stanley who would reclaim the top spot and go back to preliminary first place.

As the stop clock headed towards the end of the 90’, the Harps were throwing everything at Huyton, and with less than 10 minutes left to go, Azeez forced a save from Huyton’s replacement goalkeeper, which dropped to Quigley who managed to squirm it towards the line.

It was hard to tell, but LOBAL legend, hall-of-famer, and linesman, Stephen Stewart, deemed it that the entire ball had crossed the line, thus awarding the Harps their all-important goal.

With the score being finalised at 3-2, it meant that Mersey Harps are officially Liverpool Old Boys Amateur League Premiership champions by just two points!

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