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| Under 16 s Cup Final | |||||
| This final was an excellent display of effort, determination, passion and skill from two evenly matched teams. The organisation of the event by the Leigh District Youth league was superb. | |||||
| Six minutes into the game Ringley had their first chance and James Fairhurst foiled them by a lusty clearance off the line. Two minutes later Blacbrook repeated what they did in the Supplementary Cup by waiting in vain for an offside whistle that never came. It must have been a marginal decision. Play was even and end to end with good passing being matched by resolute defending. On 18m Ringley hammered the ball wide, the chance coming when again the defenders expected an offside decision and two minutes later Sean Milligan made a great save from a great shot. Ringley were exploiting the slope very well and on 25m almost scored again. | |||||
| Blackbrook then had a splendid passage of play involving five players, Gareth Thomas finishing it off with an exquisite chip from a John MacGowan pass. Both sides then saved shots on the line and both goalkeepers made admirable saves. This was end-to-end play, Gareth Thomas (twice) and Liam Philpott both being thwarted in the five minutes of added time. | |||||
| Blackbrook now had the slope, pressed continuously and were disappointed on 45m when a goalmouth scramble resulted in Ringley taking the lead again instead of Blackbrook getting a free kick for handball. Blackbrook's onslaught continued, perhaps concentrating too much down the middle instead of out to the wings. Ringley's back line were impressive, especially the centre back. Liam Philpott, Gareth Thomas, John MacGowan and Danny Walsh all went close, the latter with a powerful header when he rose above the defenders. However, on 75m Ringley sealed the game with an excellent goal, hit hard and perfectly when under alot of pressure from two Blackbrook defenders. | |||||
| So a tired and sore Blackbrook just lost out again to Ringley in their 11th game in April and 42nd of the season. The commitment of the squad was exemplary and it would be unfair to praise indidviduals when all had put their bodies on the line in working so hard. The Blackbrook management and supporters are proud to be associated with them. | |||||