CARTMEL and District completed a memorable season with a league and cup double after an entertaining and hard-fought victory after extra time versus Arnside in the Eric Wilson Senior Challenge Cup Final at Lancaster & Morecambe College.

It was Arnside who started the brighter of the two with Shane McQuillan, James Thornton and Marco Thompson starting strong in the middle of the park and being first to every ball.

Their early pressure on Cartmel was rewarded by opening the scoring with Thompson finishing at the back post after striker Jim Kirkham’s flick on from a Jack Burke throw-in.

As the half went on, Cartmel grew back into the game, particularly looking threatening with the long throws of Karl Davidson causing panic in the Arnside defence.

The breakthrough eventually came with Cartmel getting back on level terms after a scruffy effort was eventually bundled in by Carl Airey. The second half started with a bang with a penalty awarded to Cartmel within the first couple of minutes by referee Cliff Trickett after an incident in the box being flagged up by his assistant. Cartmel couldn’t take advantage though as the spot kick by Matthew Burrows was blazed over the bar.

The pressure continued to come with near misses and Arnside goalkeeper Daniel Smith helping to keep the ball out, in one instance pulling off a brilliant diving save and then a block from close range with his legs from the resulting corner. Buoyed on by this, Arnside came close to retaking the lead themselves when another header from Jim Kirkham from an Arnside corner was well saved on the line by Cartmel keeper Andrew Kendall. No other clear-cut chances were created in the remaining minutes, with Arnside’s defence of Jon Mason, Jamie Smith, Stephen Pearson and Ben Lenton keeping resolute only allowing long range shots at goal.

At the end of 90 minutes, with the scores level, it was Cartmel who got the breakthrough as the game went into extra time when Cameron Young produced a moment of class with a deft finish to put the ball past the onrushing Smith, who was quickly closing the angle. Although behind, Arnside refused to let their heads drop and continued to push for an equaliser, with left-back Lenton coming closest, putting the ball over the bar from six yards out, with the ball bobbling just before he struck it. W

ith Arnside continuing to push, Cartmel caught them on the break, with Young finishing off a sweeping move to make it 3-1. A fourth and final blow quickly came after with a 2nd of the game for Airey after another sweeping counter attack.

Words by Michael Miller, club secretary, Arnside FC

Cartmel

Kendall, Lord, Davidson, Brown, Sargent, Rhodes, S Taylor, Marding, Airey, Young, Burrows. Subs: Porter, Richards, Drinkall

Arnside

D Smith, Mason, J Smith, Pearson, Lenton, Carr, McQuillan, Burke, Thornton, Thompson, Kirkham. Subs: Leong, K Taylor, Noon

Referee: C Trickett; Asst. Referees: T Daniels, Y Tsado