Furness Cavaliers U12s 3 Walney island U12s 0

FURNESS Cavaliers denied Walney Island the Barrow and District JFL League and Cup double with an impressive win at a rain-drenched Holker Street.

Goals from Joe Amison, Max Winskill and Jed Philip sent Cavaliers to victory in the first of three cup finals for them in the space of two weeks.

Both teams observed a minute’s silence for Swarthmoor Under-12s goalkeeper Josh West – a friend to many of the players on the field, who died following an asthma attack last month.

Given the driving rain, it was no surprise the game took 15 minutes to get going.

Both teams passed well and closed down quickly, but neither created any clear-cut chances.

Walney had the first real chance as Joe Green broke from a deep position and crossed the ball to Isaac Bibby, who scuffed his shot wide.

Cavaliers then won a corner and Joe McGladdery’s delivery was cleared and fell to Amison, who hit a superb shot into the top corner of the net to put his side 1-0 up. The game then intensified with both teams attacking well, first Bibby had a good shot that just went wide of the post.

Green started to pick the ball up and run through the Cavaliers midfield to create chances. One of the attacks resulted in a corner where Bibby was first to the ball and shot just wide.

A great through ball to Liam Wood saw the Walney man rattle the post, while Sol Stanway and McGladdery were causing trouble up front for Cavs, but Zac Whitehead, Joss Edwards and Alex Carling stood strong.

A good Cavaliers ball from Matthew Roberts to Stanway on the left saw his first-time ball find Philip, who shot first time and only a good save from Evan Rushton prevented a second.

Walney cleared a shot off the line from a goal-line scramble just before half-time.

The game changed in the second half when McGladdery ran at the Walney defence to win a corner after a good tackle from Alex Carling.

Green once again headed clear, only for Cavaliers to attack through the middle, and a good shot from Winskill through the crowd made it 2-0 to the Blue and Whites as it deflected past Rushton.

Cavaliers kept the pressure on and Philip’s shot from outside the box managed to deceive everyone as it bounced into the bottom corner to increase the advantage.

Brady France replaced Philip and was quickly involved after receiving a pass from Jax Hartley down the right. He opened up the defence with a good ball to Stanway, whose shot was saved well by Rushton.

Cavaliers were denied another goal by the post, but Walney did not give up. Green and Joseph Nuttall combined well to create a good opportunity for Bailey Murrell, who saw his shot tipped over the bar. The corner came to Lewis Askew, who shot over.

Walney kept the pressure on and Murrell hit the post.

Cavaliers won a penalty after Amison was brought down in the box by Edwards. Stanway placed the ball to the keeper’s right, but Rushton pulled off a great save.

Walney kept going right to the end, but could not find the net as Cavaliers emerged triumphant.

Cavaliers go for a cup double tomorrow night, when they face Duddon Sports in the final of the Ulverston Hospitals Cup at Holker Street.