Second Half Strikes Seal Wardle Cup Win

Man of the match, Craig Wood of Wardle receives his trophy from Pauline Journeaux, Rochdale Online

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Wardle 3 – 0 Tophams Tavern
British Millerain Challenge Cup Final

Two second half goals confirmed victory for Premier Division outfit Wardle in the British Millerain Cup Final after a tight opening period which saw Wardle leading by the odd goal at the break against First Division runners-up Tophams Tavern. Tophams were not without their chances but Wardle’s calm finishing saw them through and in the end they won the cup by a comfortable score line.

A fifteenth minute opener settled the nerves of the Premier League side following a scrappy opening. McWilliams capitalised on a defensive error by Tophams as a header back to Clarkson in the Tophams goal fell short for the Wardle striker to head home from close range.

Wardle maintained the pressure and looked to extend their lead through a long range effort from Craig Wood which flew just wide of the upright. Matthew Taylor was next to try his luck from range after a powerful run through the centre but his attempted lob sailed just over the bar.

Tophams had some good chances to equalise before the break with Patrick Elsworth squandering the best of them. The Tavern forward gathered a cross just six yards out but blazed the ball over when it seemed easier to hit the target.

Tophams continued to push for the equaliser as the half drew to a close and Frank Smith produced a fine save from Bamford in the Wardle goal, tipping the ball round the post after the centre half won a header from a corner. The final action of the half saw Elsworth try to atone for his earlier error as he hit a shot from distance after a flowing move by Tophams but the shot did not trouble Bamford.

In the second half Tophams continued where they left off in pushing for the equaliser with Paul Ives creating two good chances for his team-mates. A long throw in by Allwork was flicked on by Ives but Hibbert could not keep his header down at the far post. Ives set up Elsworth minutes later with a good cross to the far post but again the Tophams striker failed to hit the target.

Having weathered the early pressure Wardle began to re-assert themselves with some chances of their own; Wild’s strong run from midfield left him free to have a shot and when Clarkson could only parry, the ball fell to Zenzuck who skied the ball over the bar when he should have done better.

Twenty minutes into the second half Wardle got their second through Dan McWilliams’ solo effort. The Wardle front man received the ball to feet from a throw in inside the Tophams area. McWilliams took one touch to control, one to turn his man and then fired the ball beyond the helpless Clarkson to give Wardle a cushion.

The match was sealed on seventy-five minutes as Wood bagged Wardle’s third. Wood cut inside from the right channel and fired a low left foot shot beyond Clarkson to secure the cup for his side. The score line was perhaps a touch harsh on the First Division side but despite creating decent chances Tophams had seldom troubled Bamford in the Wardle goal, whilst Wardle dealt them a lesson in finishing to secure the Cup.