Last updated at 13:49, Friday, 11 May 2012

DUDDON Sports took the cup, but Duddon Villa emerged with many plaudits in the last game for the club.

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Will King scored the only goal for Villa in a defeat which brought the curtain down on the club’s history.

They ended their junior careers after almost a decade together as the only team within their club – formed especially to give them somewhere to play.

The players had been together since under-eights, with the same group coached through all the age levels by Paul Brumby and Tony Bickerdike.

Bickerdike said: “I am so proud to be associated with the Villa players, who gave everything they had.

“Their never-say-die attitude was deservedly rewarded with a wonderful goal.

“Despite the disappointment of defeat it was fitting to finish the Duddon Villa era at Holker Street, with the players showing their total commitment to the club and each other right to the very end – why would we expect anything less?”

Sports manager Ben Shirley said: “I would like to pay credit to both clubs.

“At half-time we were thankful of being a goal up as, but for a wonder save from Rob Bamber, we could have been level or even down.“To their credit, our lads had a really tough week and had to dig deep.

“We scored three quality goals – the first was a spectacular hit and we deserved this. I’m really pleased for our lads after all their hard work over the years.”

First published at 13:41, Friday, 11 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk