4 Cup Finals Ferrand Park, Harmby...

15th May, Ferrand Park, Harmby.

Mixed Under 10's Cup Final: Catterick Garrison FC Tigers 1 v 0 Spennithorne & Harmby JFC

It was a slightly chilly start to the day of Cup Finals today at 8 degrees - but it did not hold these two sides back. It was definitely a game of two halves with The Garrison doing the majority of the attacking and were unlucky to get to half-time with just the one goal to show. It was to prove not enough as Catterick Garrison FC found another gear enjoying the lion’s share of the play in the second half delivering a couple of good strikes to win the Cup.

Girls' Under 14's Cup Final: Carperby Rovers 3 v 2 Harrogate Railway. (on pens)

This was such a finely balanced game with both sides carving out chances to win the game but just not converting their efforts into goals. Harrogate Railway had a penalty awarded but were unlucky in just missing the target. The two teams went neck and neck into extra time and then faced the dreaded test of nerve of penalties awaited the girls. It was a thrilling finish with Carperby Rovers winning 3.2.

Girls' Under 16's Cup Final: Poppleton Tigers JFC 2 v 1 Ripon City Panthers. 

Again it was a Cup Final contest between League Champions’ Tigers and league runners Panthers. And what an enthralling game it proved to be and fully lived up to the billing of this being the first ever Under 16’s Girls’ Cup Final in the Wensleydale League. the orange of Poppleton had a higher percentage of possession but simply could not break the Ripon sides defence down until late into the second half. It looked over for The red side from Ripon but they immediately replied with a spirited strike from a corner. Extra time looked a certainty until Tigers played a terrific ball over the Ripon defence for their striker to coolly deliver the winning goal and clinch a League and Cup double!


Boys' Under 12's 11-a-side Cup Final: Leyburn United 1 v 2 Spennithorne & Harmby JFC
Spennithorne & Harmby JFC were taking on the League Champions at Ferrand’s Park in the final League Cup Final of the Season. And it great advert for Dales football it proved to be too with both sides attacking end to end and display some nice touches. The back wind and solid bounce on the ball deceived the Spennithorne ‘keeper as it went over his unlucky, stretching, fingers to put United 1.0 at the break and just reward for having slightly more of the play. The coaches‘ half-time talk invigorated Spennithorne and spurred them on an inspiring comeback with 2 goals. The game came with it’s own talking points: one being the penalty awarded to Spennithorne which was struck straight at the ‘keeper who kept strong hands to push it away. the referee deemed the leyburn goalie to have moved before the kick was taken and the Spennithorne striker made no mistake with his second effort. Spennithorne hung on in the closing minutes to lift the Cup.
This was the first Cup Final for 11-a-side football in the Wensleydale League and it was not to be a disappointment.