Lichfield City are JW Hunt Cup champions.
Club stalwart Joe Haines with the all-important goal at Molineux. The full-back charged through the heart of the Tivirdale defence to strike the killer blow.
The game started at full pelt, Dan Smith getting in behind the City defence and finding the back of the net. The high line giving out dividends once again.
Ivor Green’s side took this early warning and dominated the majority of proceedings following.
Captain Kyle Patterson had the first chance, found by Luke Childs’ cutback, screwing his effort wide.
Patterson did have a moment to forget losing possession on halfway to Nashiawn Blake who charged forward and curled a low drive goal bound. James Beeson got down low to his left to make a top save.
Then it was the turn of Haines. He picked up the ball just inside opposition territory and made a driving run forward. He went past two or three men and smashed it past Louis Connor. His second goal in as many games, also scoring in the semi-final.
Marauding forward as he so often does.
City pushed for a second, immediately after Haines’ opener, Liam Kirton was smashing a low drive narrowly wide.
Half time came and went with Lichfield continuing to control the final.
Luke Childs was on fine form, sitting down anyone who challenged him. This time cutting back once, twice, three times and blasting the ball just wide, into the side netting.
Jack Edwards followed suit, ducking past his man and drilling a ball into the side netting.
Patterson was everywhere, all game, giving no Tividale players any peace.
He thought he had secured the game as the ball fell to him kindly, the ball pinballing off a Kirton shot. A narrow offside call cancelling out the skipper’s joy.
It didn’t matter however, despite a nervous final five added minutes, City saw it out and are crowned JW Hunt champions.
A run to the trophy conceding no goals along the way is testament to the team who made it their mission to end the season on a high. They’ve done just that.
A well deserved win at the home of the Old Gold and some silverware to take home.
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