Craven League Football
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Gargrave Reserves notch a league and cup double
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| Gargrave Reserves have been crowned champions of Division One in the Craven League and completed the double with the Division One Cup. |
Oakworth 1 Gargrave Reserves 3
Gargrave took control of the Division One cup final from the first whistle but were only 1-0 up by half-time, a thunderous strike from the edge of the area courtesy of right-back Al Tudhope.
Oakworth began to come more into the game despite Gargrave scoring a second through their Man-of-the-Match Oliver Hurst with a cheeky back heel. Oakworth replied with a long low shot into the corner of the net and the heat was on Gargrave.
They maintained their composure and Ben Brown sealed the win with one of his typical one- on-ones with the keeper.
It has been a superb season for this young Gargrave side with a league and cup double and runners-up awards in the Craven FA Norman Pratt Trophy final.
In the league it was a tense finale to the end of the season for the top clubs in Division One.
Both Gargrave Reserves and Pendle Athletic had only come to the fore in the last few weeks as both squads were behind schedule with their league fixtures.
They played each other at Gargrave on a heavy pitch saturated with rain but despite this there was some good, composed, passing football in evidence and it was after some one fine move Ben Brown opened the scoring for the hosts.
A superb link between Oliver Hurst and Kevin Newhouse produced the second, Newhouse releasing a magnificent shot. Newhouse delivered the third when he rifled the ball into the bottom corner of the net and then completed his hat-trick after a fine cross from Ben Brown.
Hurst, with a commanding performance throughout, released a pin-point cross to Brown who side-footed it into the net for 5-0.
An excellent performance and all credit to a re-shuffled Gargrave defence who kept a clean sheet despite Pendle's determined forays on goal.
It was left to the last games of the season to see which club could take the honours.
A win for Pendle against other close rivals Long Lee would have secured them the trophy - a draw would not have been enough for the Lancashire club if Gargrave could secure a win against Cowling. No pressure then!
Gargrave started their game tentatively but went ahead from a penalty despatched by Oliver Hurst.
Cowling quickly replied to level. Centre-back Ian Dinning used his pace to drive an acute angled shot across goal which went in off a Cowling player. Again Cowling replied and it was 2-2 at half-time.
As the second-half progressed Gargrave began to regain control of the game and a fine header from Hurst eased the pressure.
Right-back Harry Thompson scored the fourth with a well placed shot and Joel Timmins wrapped up the win with a fifth for a final score of 5-2.
The celebrations began at Gargrave when the news came through that Long Lee had won 6-2 against Pendle.
Long Lee still have a game left to play on Saturday and if they win they will be level on points with Pendle but Long Lee will have the better goal difference and could take the runners-up spot.
2:51pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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