Football: Tesco Cumberland County League

Last updated 10:18, Thursday, 08 May 2008

IN one of the most amazing cup finals ever staged at Borough Park, Cleator Moor Celtic beat Frizington White Star 7-4 to kick-start the Bank Holiday Monday double header.

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The Tesco Cumberland County League couldn’t have had a better advert for their competitions with the second final equally entertaining but without as many goals.

Celtic lifted the AP & J Brown Builders Divisional Cup with a remarkable fight-back.

It seemed as though Celtic had slept in for the 11.30am start because at half-time they trailed 4-1 – and were lucky to be as close as that.

But in a remarkable second half the hoops scored six times without reply to completely over-run their Copeland neighbours.

White Star had raced into a 3-0 lead inside 20 minutes and they were completely in control.

Dean Rodgers opened the scoring after five minutes; Rodgers saw a second shot saved but Alan Blair was on hand to tap home the rebound and then George Close scored the third with a great header after Celtic had failed to deal with a free kick.

Celtic were handed a life-line on 33 minutes as Close conceded a penalty and Michael Lewis made no mistake but, minutes later, Frizington were 4-1 up as David Williams hit the target with a remarkable over-head kick.

Rodgers and Blair both had chances to add to the goal tally but were denied by some fine saves from the Celtic keeper.

Celtic manager Paul Devine probably turned the air blue in his team’s dressing room during the break and he responded by introducing striker Karl Fillingham for the second half.

That contributed to Celtic turning the game round as Fillingham found Lewis and he made it 4-2. Two minutes later, Lewis completed his hat-trick to set-up a thrilling finale.

Could White Star hold on or did Celtic have the bit sufficiently between their teeth to finish the job?

Fillingham fired Celtic level and then in front as he hit two inside four minutes before adding his third and his side’s sixth as he beat the offside trap.

That performance earned him the sponsor’s man-of-the-match award, although Lewis rounded it all off with his fourth of the afternoon before the end.

The Crest Team Wear Conway Cup final was never going to be as goal-packed as Aspatria and Netherhall are no strangers to each other, meeting five days earlier in the League. That one finished 1-0 to Netherhall and the cup final was expected to be just as tight.

Despite some early Netherhall pressure, Aspatria took the lead as Mark Laidlow fired past stand-in keeper Tom Shepherd from a Daryl Creighton cross.

Aspatria keeper Sowerby saved from Ross Johnston while Ryan Irving cleared off the line when Sean Smith's shot was goal bound as Netherhall were determined to go in at the break on level terms.

Johnston, Keith Anderson and Andrew Lowes all had chances before David Towers limped out of the action on 41 minutes as Netherhall ended the half with only 10 players on the field.

Dean Scholey replaced Towers at the start of the second period so it was all square in numbers on the field of play.

Pretty soon it was level, too, in the scoreline. Johnston saw his header go wide at the start of the action as Netherhall pushed for the equaliser and, on 51 minutes, they were awarded a penalty and Mark Smith made no mistake from the spot.

Scholey had a chance to put Netherhall in front but Sowerby saved and seconds later Shepherd did well to keep out an effort from Laidlow.

Five minutes from time, Anderson found Lowes and he drilled home the winning goal for the League champions.

Last Wednesday, Netherhall had been crowned champions of the Tesco Premier Division as they defeated closest rivals Aspatria by a solitary Chris Dawes strike.

Cockermouth also won at Silloth with goals from Thompson (2), Peers and Armour.

Frizington had warmed up for their cup final with a goal blitz over Bransty Rangers as Dean Rodgers (4), Graham Carruthers (3), Alan Blair, Kevin Smith and Barry Armfield went on the rampage. It finished 10-2 to White Star.

Cleator Moor Celtic also warmed up for that final show in the Divisional Cup with a fine 4-0 victory over Windscale and it was the same score at St Bees as Whitehaven Miners defeated the home side.

On Wednesday, Salterbeck failed to show at Mirehouse and they will be dealt with by the management committee but they lose three points automatically.

Saturday saw Wigton through to the final of the Focsa Ken Glover Shield as they defeated Longtown 4-0. Silloth condemned Hearts of Liddisdale to Division One next season with a 5-0 victory and Bransty Rangers won 4-2 at Parton United to leapfrog their rivals off the bottom.

CFM Whitehaven Cup final – Aspatria v Frizington White Star (3pm kick-off at Borough Park, Workington). Tesco Premier Division - Longtown v Mirehouse, Hearts of Liddesdale v Whitehaven AFC, Wigton Harriers v Silloth. Tesco Division One - Bransty Rangers v Carlisle Spartans. Fosca Ken Glover Shield semi-final – Cockermouth v NetherhallTesco Premier Division – Netherhall v Whitehaven AFC, Wigton Harriers v Cockermouth. Tesco Division One – Bransty Rangers v Whitehaven Miners, St Bees v Cleator Moor Celtic, Frizington White Star v Parton United.Tesco Premier Division – Aspatria v Salterbeck.