Football -Westmorland take FA Youth Cup verdict (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Football -Westmorland take FA Youth Cup verdict

12:14pm Saturday 25th October 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

THE Westmorland County FA team beat Cumberland 3-1 at the Lakeland Radio Stadium on Saturday to progress to the second round of the FA Youth Cup.

It was an impressive win for Westmorland, who played postive football throughout and made a flying start and were ahead within a minute when Lawrence Stannard ran on to a through ball to finish from close range.

Looking dangerous going forward, Westmorland threatened to increase their lead when Nathan Dixon forced a finger-tip save form the Cumberland keeper Matt Mahoney and James Benjamin was through but fired straight at the keeper.

Cumberland put a tardy start behind them to create some half-decent scoring opportunities and Shane Rooney went close three times.

Just as Westmorland looked set to go in at half time with their lead intact, Cumberland levelled the scores.

Keeper Stuart Dixon failed to deal with a corner and Stefan Scott was left with an easy header at the back post.

Dixon atoned when almost immediately he denied Cumberland a second goal with a superb save from a 25-yard free kick The second half turned into a tight affair but there were openings.

Max Shaw had a good chance for Westmorland when he turned the Cumberland centre-half and got his shot away, but the keeper saved well.

However, Nathan McNeill was the hero for Westmorland when he bagged two goals, his first from a speculative shot from 25 yards that went under the keeper, and his second when he rose well to head home from a corner. Westmorland will play Lancashire at home in the second round in early November.

TEAM: Stuart Dixon, Thomas Wright, Sam Cooper, Graham Baker (captain), Robin Mackenzie, James Thornton, Lawrence Stannard, Nathan McNeil, Max Shaw, Nathan Dixon and James Benjamin. Subs: Greg Pearce, Jackson Eatherden and Daniel Davidson.