VICKERSTOWN reserves were pipped to the FPL Riflemans Garage Premier Division title by Kirkby United, but had the consolation of winning the B&D Motors Paul Wilson Memorial Trophy in glorious sunshine at Holker Old Boys.

Having secured the runners-up position on Saturday, Vickerstown won an entertaining final by a 2-1 scoreline to lift the trophy for the fifth time.

Kirkby were playing up the Rakesmoor slope in the first half and had the first opportunity to score when top scorer Paul Cleasby broke clear but he was denied by a saving tackle from Vickerstown skipper Mike Imison. Vickerstown’s first real chance came after a good advantage was played by referee Lee Wadsworth and Jackson Round forced a great save from Kirkby keeper Josh Hewson.

There was a scare for Vickerstown when Scott Watkinson beat the offside trap but keeper Jordan Belcher was quickly out to clear the ball. The game lulled as both sides cancelled each other out and the heat took its toll on both sets of players. In the 40th minute Cleasby and Huw Barton combined on the Kirkby right, but Mark Johnson defended well to deny Matty Bruce.

A couple of minutes later Vickerstown took the lead when a free-kick into the box fell kindly for Scott McDonald and he fired home from 14 yards, and that was how it stayed at half-time.

Neither side made any changes at the break and Vickerstown, now playing up the slope, started brightly but the first chance of the second half was when Cleasby beat the offside trap and again Belcher had to be quickly out to clear the ball. That was just a warning as the lively Cleasby went on a trademark jinking run and fed Watkinson who was able to shoot past Belcher and level the scores. Kirkby failed to gain any momentum from the equaliser and the closest they came to going ahead was from a Cleasby shot that went a couple of yards wide.

At the other end, Hewson was forced into a save by Scott McDonald but it took a change of personnel to make the difference. Vickerstown introduced last year’s man of the match, Tony Gooding, into the game and he’d only been on the pitch for a few minutes when good work by McDonald led to Gooding calmly slotting the ball home to put Vickerstown ahead once again with 11 minutes remaining. Kirkby were unable to create any chances from open play as Vickersown’s defence stood firm with Mike Imison and Ian Rogers in great form. There was one half chance from a corner when the ball fell to Alistair Bradley but he lifted the ball high over the bar.

Vickerstown retained the trophy which was presented by sponsor Alan Wilson, with Dave Staunton of Premier Tiles awarding the man of the match award to Mike Imison.

As usual the pitch was in excellent condition and Alan and Barbara Wilson provided wonderful hospitality for the players and officials. Vickerstown had secured the runners-up spot in the Riflemans Garage Premier Division on Saturday with a 7-4 win over GSK Ulverston Rangers reserves. Scott McDonald opened the scoring after 15 seconds and went on to score five goals in all.

The other scorers were Danny Douglas and Mike Adams, while Sam Pinnegor scored a hat-trick for Rangers with Josh Cronin completing the scoring. Hawcoat Park reserves’ challenge for second place ended in a 2-0 defeat at Millom reserves who scored through Ben McDonald and Chris Wood.

After a terrible start to the season, it was Millom’s eighth win in 14 games and it moved them out of the bottom two for the first time this season. Bootle paid the price for having a pitch that was played on throughout the winter and slipped into the relegation places.

Haverigg’s John Chmiel finished as the Premier Division top scorer adding four goals against Barrow Wanderers to take his total to 52 for the season. The game finished 8-0 to Haverigg with the other goals coming from Joss Garroway, 2, Andrew Walker and Elliott Sutton. It has been a tough season for Wanderers with both their sides finishing in the relegation places in their respective divisions.

On Friday night Britannia beat Swarthmoor Social reserves 4-2. Liam Holmes, Ross Walker, Mark Treen and Jordan Wallace scored for the Brit with Swarthmoor’s goals coming from Jack Moore and Nathan Tracey. Tracey’s goal was his first in open-age football and was from all of 30 yards.

l GSK Ulverston Rangers are currently looking for a new first team manager for the 2016/17 season. The club, currently sitting in the West Lancashire Division One, are also the current Furness Senior Cup holders.

For more information please contact Phil Grant on 01229 580917 or 07900 121846 or email philgrant@fsmail.net

l As this is my last column covering local football in Furness I would like to thank everyone who has supplied info over the last few years, it has been greatly appreciated.

I will continue to go to games and look forward to visiting grounds in a non-official capacity to enjoy the excellent hospitality on offer at many clubs.

The format of the FPL for next season will be confirmed at the AGM on June 23. The league still require a fixtures and press secretary for next season. Applications should be made to the FPL committee.