Halton Rangers v Morecambe Hoops

15-04-07

Halton Rangers v Morecambe Hoops
Whiteside Cup Final 2006 - 2007

Halton Rangers match against Morecambe Hoops - played at Giant Axe, Lancaster on 15th April 2007.

Halton Rangers 2 - 0 Morecambe Hoops

Halton Rangers added the Whiteside Challenge Cup to the Division Two title with a relatively comfortable victory over Morecambe Hoops on Monday night.
These two sides have been far and away the best in their division this season and with Hoops the only team to have beaten Rangers, a close game was on the cards.
But, in the end, Halton's organisation and impressive fitness levels proved the difference as they ran out winners with goals early in each half.

After a steady start with both teams getting used to the Giant Axe surface, which has hardened in the hot weather, Rangers broke the deadlock in the ninth minute.
Hoops lost possession about 30 yards from goal and the lively Lee Richardson pounced for Rangers, picking the ball up and firing right-footed over Paul Sayer and into the top corner of the Hoops' goal.

Hoops tried their best to bounce back but were finding it hard to break through the solid back three of Halton with Rangers' captain Andrew Curwen marshalling his side excellently.
The Morecambe side had the most joy down the left flank where the outstanding Rob Brockbank showed coolness under pressure and an excellent mastery of the ball on a tricky surface.

He was the first to put Iain Pierpoint under pressure when, after winning the ball on the left, he got forward to take the return but couldn't lift the ball over Pierpoint.
Adam Iley almost made it two on the half hour when he was inches away from diverting Warren Goodwin's free-kick while Richardson pulled a shot wide as Halton kept pressing.
Scott Elderton had to be alert to deny Stuart Gordon with a good tackle but the Hoops then almost equalised when a long ball found David Riley but Pierpoint showed good strength to clear the ball off the striker's toes.

Hoops' hopes of getting back in the game were hit just six minutes after the break. After being frustrated by the offside flag in the first period, Jonathon Pink managed to race clear after a pass from Iley and he made no mistake, blasting the ball past Sayer, who had no chance.

The Hoops felt that Pink was offside and referee James Barker sent club official Gerry Donaghue from the dugout for his protests.
That summed up the Hoops' frustrations as they struggled to put Rangers under pressure.
A move on the hour epitomised Rangers' style, their defence swamping the Hoops and the ball being played up to Stuart Gordon, who intelligently came short.
He linked up with the onrushing Richardson who fed Gordon again but Sayer made the save.

A lack of precision cost Rangers the chance to seal their win before the Hoops rallied in the last 10 minutes.
Riley headed over after reacting quickest to a deflected Brockbank cross and the same player found space in the box but his flicked shot with the outside of his right foot failed to hit the target.
Aaron Simpson saw his shot blocked as Rangers kept their clean sheet to complete the league and cup double in the space of three days.

Skipper Curwen praised the two goalscorers.

"They were two great volleys, right in the top corner - no keeper in the world could have stopped them."
"We would like to think we can carry this on into next year when we are in Division One but credit to the Hoops, they have run us close this year."

Rob Goldsbrough, captain of the Hoops, said: "I don't think we performed to our capabilities and we gave sloppy balls away.
"They wanted it more than us."

HALTON RANGERS: Pierpoint, Goodwin, Thompson, Curwen, S Shallis, Plevey, Lund, Richardson, Pink (P Shallis 82), Gordon (Hay 65), Iley (Jeffrey 72).

MORECAMBE HOOPS: Sayer, G Wright, Brockbank, Elderton, I Dewhirst (Liver 55), SImpson, Fisher (Horton 87), A Wright (P Dewhirst 65), Gouldsbrough, Riley, Martinez.

Man of the match: Lee Richardson - a superb, energetic performance capped with a cracking goal to set his side on the way.