Harvest Foods FC win War Memorial Trophy at Blundell Park, the second leg of the massive challenge to win 4 out of 4 Saturday League finals. The first leg was achieved with a 2-1 extra time win against 'Fidler' in the Ron Bevers Challenge Trophy. The team has achieved the the third leg on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-0 win in the Saturday Supplementary Cup. The team will go for 4th leg Wednesday v Caistor, the game is played at Caistor. Can Harvest make it 4 out of 4? The team won the Saturday League Division 1 without loss. How many 'futsal faces' can you recogonise from picture?  Futsal referee Dan Fidler officiated at 2 of the finals. West Marsh futsal team goal keeper Ben Case refereed the Blundell Park final.   Full report Memorial Cup report attached.

Grimsby and District Football League

Founded 1896

Sponsored by Associated British Ports

War Memorial Cup Final                                        May 5th 2009 KO: 6.30pm

Nunsthorpe Tavern FC  2-4     Harvest Pet Products FC 1st

Paul Cole (pen 9)                        Andy Boules (og 14) Drew McFaddyen (51)

John Taylor (23)                        Ryan Smith (55) John Oglesby (65)

Teams:

Nunsthorpe Tavern FC

Andy Chalk, Paul Cole, Lee Ballard, Baz Bee (Capt), Jay Marshall (Denzie Lobendham 46), Andy Boules, John Taylor (Paul Chalk 41), Freddie Cass, Stuart Turner (Ian Ritchie 77), Jason Chisnall, Adam Cox Subs: Paul Chalk, Ian Ritchie, Denzie Lobendham, Danny Hornigold, Luke Todd Manager: Steve Welsh

Harvest Pet Products FC 1^st

Ashley Kiff, Dale Mason , Michael Kirwin, Nicky Ingram (Nick Goodwin 88), Danny Durosmo, Shane Garvie (Luke Nuel 71), Tom Hunter (Capt), Ryan Smith, Drew McFaddyen (Andy Artley 83), Ben Smith, John Oglesby,  Subs: Nick Goodwin, Andy Artley, Luke Nuel, Manager: Matt Bryant

Match Officials:

Referee: Ben Cass, Assistant Referees: Mark Swift, Lawrence Heward 4^th Official: Dan Fidlin

Venue: Grimsby Town FC, Blundell Park, Cleethorpes

In view of the UEFA Champions League semi final on TV there was a decent crowd to watch these two teams contest the Grimsby  District Football League War Memorial Cup Final at Blundell Park.

The opening exchanges saw the younger legs of the Harvest team carve out an opening in the first minute when a 1-2 saw Ben Smith surge into the penalty area only to see his shot well saved by Andy Chalk in the Tavern goal at the expense of a corner. From the corner Ben Smith leapt highest to send a header over the bar. The next five minutes saw the Harvest team force another three corners as they tried to claim an early advantage.

As the Tavern team adjusted to the early pace a fine interception by left back Lee Ballard in the 8^th minute saw him bring Adam Cox into the game and some fine one touch passing saw Cox released into the Harvest penalty area where his shot was saved by Kiff’s feet before the ball rebounded off a Tavern leg for a goal kick. Tavern won the ball from the goal kick just inside their own half where some fine play involving Marshall, Cass & Taylor, once again released Cox into the penalty area where he was fouled as he was about to shoot. Paul Cole stepped up to take the penalty in front of the Pontoon and confidently fired home to give the Tavern the lead in the 9^th minute.

The kick off saw Harvest bring Oglesby into the game on the left wing and his strong run down the left flank saw a very good far post cross headed away for a corner to prevent Garvie a chance of shooting. The  corner was cleared by Tavern and thy quickly broke to release Turner only to be denied by an offside flag.

The match saw both sides taking turns to attack as they enjoyed the extra space the Blundell Park pitch gave them and in the 14^th minute the equaliser came from yet another corner for Harvest to find Ben Smith heading towards the goal beating Chalk and in a attempt to clear off his own line Boules could only help the ball into the net. As the game continued to swing form one to the other it was the turn of Ryan Smith of Harvest to be denied by an offside flag in the 19^th min. A minute later a fine move involving Oglesby, McFaddyen, and Ryan Smith saw his point blank range shot well stopped by Chalk in the Tavern goal. The game continued at a good pace with both sides producing some fine skilful passing football and one such move from Tavern in the 23^rd minute saw them awarded a free kick on the edge of the left hand corner of the penalty area. John Taylor stepped up to take the free kick and planted it expertly in the top right hand corner of Kiff’s goal to regain the lead for Tavern 2-1.

The game was flowing end to end making it an enjoyable spectacle to watch and a credit to both of the teams.

On the half hour mark Harvest worked their way forward again and as Ben Smith and jay Marshall contested a bouncing ball in the Tavern penalty area the referee awarded Harvest an indirect free kick. Ben Smith received treatment and left the field to see a Hunter roll a short pass to Ryan Smith who saw his shot blocked by the upper arm of a Tavern defender. Strong shouts for a penalty turned down by the referee.

Once more both sides exchanged attacks when in 35^th minute Tavern awarded a free kick approx 30 yards out in a central position. This time Taylor fired his kick wide. Not to be outdone Harvest responded and on 38 mins Garvie cut in from the right flank to unleash a shot from 35 yards straight into the safe hands of Chalk. From the goal kick Kirwin won the ball for Harvest and released Oglesby, who linked with Hunter whose cheeky back heel released Ben Smith only to see his shot from the edge of the penalty go over the bar.

In the 41^st minute, Tavern’s John Taylor who had passed a late fitness test to start the match had to be replaced by Paul Chalk. Two minutes later Ryan Smith of Harvest saw a well struck shot form distance well saved by Andy Chalk in the Tavern goal. Half time arrived with Nunsthorpe Tavern leading by 2-1.

The second half began with Tavern having to replace injured defender Marshall with Lobendham. Two enforced substitutions within minutes of each other where not in the planning of Manager Welsh. Harvest made a tactical switch with Durosmo moving to left back and Kirwin into the centre of defence. The opening minutes of the second half did not see a repeat of the start of the match but a more controlled approach by both sides as they came to terms with the changes of personnel.

In the 51^st minute the game sprang back into life when a long ball from Mason in his own half release Drew McFaddyen to out run the Tavern defenders who had defended a higher line in an attempt to catch him offside. All to no avail, as McFaddyen kept his cool and chipped keeper Chalk with a fine lob to score the equalizer.

Their confidence increasing all the time Harvest for the first time began to wrest control of the game and on 55mins a similar move to the equalizer saw Mason this time find Ryan Smith who on  this occasion made no mistake as he fired home past the exposed Chalk in the Tavern goal to give his team the lead  for the first time.   

Not as regularly as they had done in the first half Tavern remained committed in trying to outwit their opponents and using their skill and experience Cass and Cox combined to win a corner in the 58^th minute which was comfortably cleared. Harvest knew they had the game to win though. Not for the first time they worked the ball to the left wing to find Oglesby whose strong run saw him cut inside and release a fine shot from the edge of the penalty area through a mass of players into the bottom right hand corner of the Tavern goal to give Harvest a 4-2 lead.

This goal sparked more energy into the Tavern team and they reacted immediately when a long throw by Lobendham to Chisnall saw his fine pass stopped at full stretch by Durosmo to prevent Turner having a chance to reduce the deficit. Two minutes later they were knocking on the door again when a Cass pass found Bee who saw his cross cum shot eventually stopped on his goal line by Kiff..

Harvest made their first substitution in 71^st minute with Luke Neul replacing Garvie.

In the 75^th minute the Harvest midfield released Mason on the overlap down the right wing where he got to the bye line and sent a great cross just over the head of McFaddyen. A minute later another ball over the top of the Tavern defense saw Ryan Smith once again advance on goal,  to see his shot well blocked by Andy Chalk who then reacted first to push the rebound out for a corner. When the corner had been cleared Tavern introduced their final sub Ian Ritchie for Turner (77mins).

Although two goals down, the Tavern deserve praise for not giving up, and on 80 mins Adam Cox missed his kick with the goal gaping. This prompted an immediate response from Harvest and a typical surging run form Ben Smith saw his pass driven across the tavern goal without anyone being able to get the touch required. The game flowed right back to the other end where Chisnall put his shot wide.

The 83^rd min saw Harvest introduce Andy Artley into the game for the tireless Drew McFaddyen. A minute later Harvest found themselves with a three for two advantage and worked the ball to the free running Ben Smith whose shot hit the post. From the rebound a cross was turned home by Ben Smith only to see he had strayed into an offside position. 

Tavern continued to press and in the 87^th min won a free kick by the left hand corner flag. The cross from Cass was headed wide by Ritchie. A minute later Harvest replaced Ingham with Goodwin. Thye game still swung form end to end and the Tavern were still striving to score as the referee signalled 5mins additional time. It was not to be and the final whistle blew with Harvest Pet Products FC 1^st having won their second cup final inside a week with a third to look forward to on 9^th May.

Referee Ben Cass and his officials had a fine game allowing it to continue at every opportunity.

Both teams deserve full credit for their performances providing great entertainment for the crowd and also for the way they conducted themselves both on and off the pitch. Well done. 

The League wish to thank Grimsby Town Football Club for the use of their facilities and a special thank you to Groundsman Mike Phillips and the two stewards who assisted on the night.

Philip Storr,

Chairman,

Grimsby & District Football League