LATE GOALS SAW KIRKLANDS SWING THIS CUP TIE WITH GOALS FROM SHAUN WEBSTER, MEHR HUSSAIN, LUKE PLAYFORD & SHANE GILLMAN.
Wakefield & District Sunday Football League - Sunday 24th April 2022.
Premiership Two League Cup Final
Three late goals saw Kirklands lift the Premiership Two League Cup following their 4-1 success over Wakefield Athletic at the Crofton Community Centre complex.
Wakefield Athletic made a dominant start and saw both Danny Jones and Bubacarr Camara force saves form Kirklands keeper Jordan Ripley. Kirkland's grew more into the game and saw their first effort at the Athletic goal in the 20th minute sail over the bar before hitting the woodwork five minutes later.
However, on the half hour, Athletic took the lead when Ray Cheng's mis-hit effort was picked-up by Mamadou Touray who broke into the Kirklands penalty area before placing the ball past the keepers right in clinical fashion to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Kirklands hauled themselves level minutes before half-time in confusing fashion when a Shaun Webster header from close-range found target with the linesman Andrew Smith flagging for offside. After the intervention with the referee Chris Adey, the goal stood to make it 1-1.
The second period was a dour affair. Both Kane Whitaker (47th minute) and Levon Zserdicky (70th minute) respectively forced a clearance off the line and a full length save by the Kirklands keeper Ripley at the expense of a corner in isolated breaks.
However, 18 minutes from time, Kirklands Mehr Hussain caught Athletic keeper Jack Rothery off his line and found target with the ball eluding the reach of the keeper to tale a 2-1 lead. Athletic fought and pushed players forward in numbers but lost their shape in the process.
In the 82nd minute, a deep teasing pass by Athletics' Mamadou Touray found Edrisa Konatech who missed a golden opportunity to equalise with a mis-hit effort. Kirklands caught Athletic short twice in the dying minutes and saw Luke Platford cash in from a Karl Villa pass from the right-flank before a gift goal saw Shane Gillman grab his sides fourth goal.
Match ball for the final was sponsored by Lightwaves Leisure & Community Centre.
The man of the match award, sponsored by Pennine Trophies (Heckmondwike) went to Luke Playford of Kirlands FC.
Cup was presented to Kirklands captain Chris Wilde by Wakefield & Sunday Football Leagues guest of honour Brett Mercer.