Atherton Collieries win the 1st Division Trophy Winners
Tue 10th May 2011 | Atherton Collieries | By Paul Lawler
Atherton Collieries lifted the North West Counties League 1st Division Trophy for the first time in their history after a 3-2 extra time victory over AFC Liverpool at Flixton FC.
After going behind to an early John Kennedy goal, two goals from Paul Hynes seemed to have clinched victory for Colls until Kennedy converted a last gasp penalty to square the game and take it into extra time.
But Phil Williams bundled home a 97th minute winner to give Colls' victory, and claim their first league trophy since winning the old Thrid Division Championship title in 1986-87.
Appearing in a record third successive final, AFC Liverpool began well and were ahead inside three minutes. Shaun Gardner collected a pass on the edge of the box, turned his marker and fired in a shot that rebounded off the cross bar, took a deflection off a Colls defender and landed in the path of John Kennedy, who had time and space to head the ball into the corner of the net.
It nearly got worse for Colls two minutes later, when Shaun Chart cut the ball back for Kieran Quinn to fire in a fierce shot that was well parried by Colls keeper Josh Harris.
But Colls weathered the storm, and after Karl Atherton finished off a run down the left with a shot that was deflected across the face of the goal, Phil Williams tested Reds keeper Michael Christopher with a header from Joe Fielding's cross.
On 32 minutes Colls drew level, courtesy of a fine free kick from Paul Hynes. When Jonny Bridge charged down a clearance from Reds keeper Christopher, he was bowled over by a challenge from Patrick O'Driscoll, and from the resultant free kick Hynes curled a 25 yard free kick over the wall and into the net off the inside of the near post.
On the stroke of half time, Colls striker Paul Atherton got in front of a defender to head a Craig Ward cross into the net, but the strike was flagged offside by the far side assistant referee.
However, the Colls number 10 was involved in creating a second goal for his side six minutes into the second half.
Paul Hynes chip over the heads of the Liverpool defence sent Atherton through on goal, and he was halted by a challenge from the advancing keeper Christopher on the edge of the penalty area.
After a yellow card was issued to the Reds keeper for his challenge, Paul Hynes fired a cracking free kick round the wall and into the bottom corner of the net to put Colls ahead.
Daniel McGahon had come on as a half time substitute for AFC Liverpool, and he almost pulled his side back on level terms in the 56th minute, when he collected the ball on the edge of the box and curled in a shot that beat Colls keeper Harris but rebounded off the post.
As the second half wore on, Colls enjoyed the better of the possession, and after Paul Atherton shot across the face of goal midway through the second half, a surging run from twin brother Karl ended with him being blocked on the edge of the box, but the ensuing free kick was cleared to safety.
But, with the Colls contingent calling for the final whistle, a dramatic finale saw AFC Liverpool awarded a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Shaun Gardner was brought down just inside the penalty area, and after consultation between the referee and assistant, the referee pointed to the spot.
After the heated protests from Colls players were waved away, John Kennedy stepped up to slot home the spot kick and take the game into extra time.
The early stages of the opening period of extra time saw little in the way of goalmouth action until Colls grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 97th minute.
Fine footwork on the left flank from Colls substitute Gareth Peet took him past two challenges, and when he fired a low cross into the six yard box Phil Williams timed his run perfectly to bundle the ball over the line at the back post.
A predictable late flurry from AFC Liverpool produced a few half chances late in the second period, with substitute Stephen McCluskie having a shot blocked on the edge of the box and then firing just over from 20 yards after the Colls defence failed to clear their lines.
A last throw of the dice saw another Reds substitute Conor Murphy come close with a firmly struck shot that was well held by Colls keeper Harris, before the referee's whistle brought the proceedings to an end.
Atherton Collieries: Josh Harris, Craig Ward (Steve Rothwell 110), Joe Fielding, Simon Howard, Andy Walker (captain), Joe Evans, Karl Atherton (Gareth Peet 89), Jonny Bridge, Paul Hynes (Adam White 75), Paul Atherton, Phil Williams. Sub not used – Michael Pryce.
Goals: Paul Hynes (32, 51), Phil Williams (97)
Booked: Craig Ward (82)
AFC Liverpool: Michael Christopher, Steven Corris (Conor Murphy 59), Darren Torpey, River Humphreys, Patrick O'Driscoll, David Mather (Daniel McGahon 46), Shaun Chart, Kieran Quinn, Shaun Gardner, Joseph Gibbons (Stephen McCluskie 68), John Kennedy. Substitutes not used – Lindfield Paul, Robert Lamont.
Goals: John Kennedy (3, 90 (pen))
Booked: Patrick O'Driscoll (80), River Humphreys (101), Shaun Chart (119)
Andy Walker and Joe Evans receive the 1st Division Trophy from League Life Member Mike Darby.
Atherton Collieries win the 1st Division Trophy Winners
Tue 10th May 2011 | Atherton Collieries
By Paul Lawler
Atherton Collieries lifted the North West Counties League 1st Division Trophy for the first time in their history after a 3-2 extra time victory over AFC Liverpool at Flixton FC.
After going behind to an early John Kennedy goal, two goals from Paul Hynes seemed to have clinched victory for Colls until Kennedy converted a last gasp penalty to square the game and take it into extra time.
But Phil Williams bundled home a 97th minute winner to give Colls' victory, and claim their first league trophy since winning the old Thrid Division Championship title in 1986-87.
Appearing in a record third successive final, AFC Liverpool began well and were ahead inside three minutes. Shaun Gardner collected a pass on the edge of the box, turned his marker and fired in a shot that rebounded off the cross bar, took a deflection off a Colls defender and landed in the path of John Kennedy, who had time and space to head the ball into the corner of the net.
It nearly got worse for Colls two minutes later, when Shaun Chart cut the ball back for Kieran Quinn to fire in a fierce shot that was well parried by Colls keeper Josh Harris.
But Colls weathered the storm, and after Karl Atherton finished off a run down the left with a shot that was deflected across the face of the goal, Phil Williams tested Reds keeper Michael Christopher with a header from Joe Fielding's cross.
On 32 minutes Colls drew level, courtesy of a fine free kick from Paul Hynes. When Jonny Bridge charged down a clearance from Reds keeper Christopher, he was bowled over by a challenge from Patrick O'Driscoll, and from the resultant free kick Hynes curled a 25 yard free kick over the wall and into the net off the inside of the near post.
On the stroke of half time, Colls striker Paul Atherton got in front of a defender to head a Craig Ward cross into the net, but the strike was flagged offside by the far side assistant referee.
However, the Colls number 10 was involved in creating a second goal for his side six minutes into the second half.
Paul Hynes chip over the heads of the Liverpool defence sent Atherton through on goal, and he was halted by a challenge from the advancing keeper Christopher on the edge of the penalty area.
After a yellow card was issued to the Reds keeper for his challenge, Paul Hynes fired a cracking free kick round the wall and into the bottom corner of the net to put Colls ahead.
Daniel McGahon had come on as a half time substitute for AFC Liverpool, and he almost pulled his side back on level terms in the 56th minute, when he collected the ball on the edge of the box and curled in a shot that beat Colls keeper Harris but rebounded off the post.
As the second half wore on, Colls enjoyed the better of the possession, and after Paul Atherton shot across the face of goal midway through the second half, a surging run from twin brother Karl ended with him being blocked on the edge of the box, but the ensuing free kick was cleared to safety.
But, with the Colls contingent calling for the final whistle, a dramatic finale saw AFC Liverpool awarded a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Shaun Gardner was brought down just inside the penalty area, and after consultation between the referee and assistant, the referee pointed to the spot.
After the heated protests from Colls players were waved away, John Kennedy stepped up to slot home the spot kick and take the game into extra time.
The early stages of the opening period of extra time saw little in the way of goalmouth action until Colls grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 97th minute.
Fine footwork on the left flank from Colls substitute Gareth Peet took him past two challenges, and when he fired a low cross into the six yard box Phil Williams timed his run perfectly to bundle the ball over the line at the back post.
A predictable late flurry from AFC Liverpool produced a few half chances late in the second period, with substitute Stephen McCluskie having a shot blocked on the edge of the box and then firing just over from 20 yards after the Colls defence failed to clear their lines.
A last throw of the dice saw another Reds substitute Conor Murphy come close with a firmly struck shot that was well held by Colls keeper Harris, before the referee's whistle brought the proceedings to an end.
Atherton Collieries: Josh Harris, Craig Ward (Steve Rothwell 110), Joe Fielding, Simon Howard, Andy Walker (captain), Joe Evans, Karl Atherton (Gareth Peet 89), Jonny Bridge, Paul Hynes (Adam White 75), Paul Atherton, Phil Williams. Sub not used – Michael Pryce.
Goals: Paul Hynes (32, 51), Phil Williams (97)
Booked: Craig Ward (82)
AFC Liverpool: Michael Christopher, Steven Corris (Conor Murphy 59), Darren Torpey, River Humphreys, Patrick O'Driscoll, David Mather (Daniel McGahon 46), Shaun Chart, Kieran Quinn, Shaun Gardner, Joseph Gibbons (Stephen McCluskie 68), John Kennedy. Substitutes not used – Lindfield Paul, Robert Lamont.
Goals: John Kennedy (3, 90 (pen))
Booked: Patrick O'Driscoll (80), River Humphreys (101), Shaun Chart (119)
Andy Walker and Joe Evans receive the 1st Division Trophy from League Life Member Mike Darby.
