Ulverston Rangers Predators U11s 2 Holker Old Boys Reds 3

HOLKER Old Boys put a trophy in their cabinet at the second attempt with success in the Furness FA Youth Cup at Crooklands Casuals.

It was sweet revenge for their Barrow JFL KO Cup final defeat to Ulverston Rangers Predators at Holker Street 10 days earlier.

Rangers were going for the treble after defeating Barrow Celtic in the Ulverston Hospitals Cup, but they came up against an Old Boys side determined to win their first cup and claim a maiden victory over their opponents.

Holker won the toss and elected to play down the hill with the breeze at their backs in the first half.

They used both to their advantage as, in complete contrast to the previous final, Holker took the game straight to Ulverston.

Alex Bolland spearheaded the attacks and James Cresswell played behind him in what was to prove a winning combination.

Will Manson’s midfield battle against Jonty O’Neil set the platform for Old Boys to build on, releasing Ruben Hutton and Ellis Bank on the flanks, with Cresswell down the middle and Bolland up top.

On one of these attacks, the ball was played back to Evan Bee, who picked his spot in the bottom corner for 1-0.

Holker continued to attack and a free-kick from Cresswell skimmed the bar. Bolland found himself clean through only to fire over, with Ulverston calling on all their defensive ability and experience to keep Holker out.

Cresswell was brought down just inside the Ulverston half and picked himself up to take the free-kick. Bolland flicked on the ball and it nestled in the far corner of the net as the advantage was doubled.

The game continued in the same pattern, with Ruben Hutton hitting the post following another move from midfield, before Bolland – who was outstanding on the night – won the ball off the Ulverston defence, fought his way through and finished off what he had started with a right-foot strike into the corner.

Ulverston kicked off the second half three goals down, but with the wind at their backs and playing down the slope.

They took the game to Holker, who were restricted to breakaways.

An Ulverston set-piece short corner was fired into the Old Boys area and the resulting shot from Max Winder found the back of the net through the crowd to cut the margin to 3-1.

Two minutes later, Holker again failed to clear and Winder took his chance well, finding the net for the second time in two minutes as the Predators were on the prowl.

Ulverston began to raise a head of steam and attacks started to come in waves, with Russell Ferguson hitting the bar with a lightning strike.

Holker were defending in numbers, blocking and breaking up attack after attack.

In the final minute, Rangers’ Oscar Morgan was awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and he was unlucky to see his strike hit the upright angle and bounce away. Ulverston battled to the end chasing the equaliser before the referee blew his whistle to end a pulsating final, which was a credit to both teams.

Alex Bolland was awarded the Alan Hulme man-of-the-match award for his outstanding performance, while best for Ulverston were Winder, Ferguson, O’Neil and Cayden Butler.