Heap's stunner sees off Crown

ACTION STATIONS . . . Crown's Joe McNamara shields the ball from Limeside's Joe Heap

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Crown FC 1, Limeside King Gge 2

JOE Heap's stunning 20-yard free-kick proved to be the winning goal as Limeside King George overcame Crown in the final of the Oldham Sunday League President's Trophy at Chadderton FC's ARK Fleetech Stadium.

League President Rodney Clarke was on hand to present the trophy to the jubilant George outfit, who, despite being a goal down, came back to show their prowess and so retain their grasp on a competition that was first introduced by then President Steve Ward.

This was a tense affair between the two of the league's heavy weights - George already crowned as champions and Crown with the potential to steal that crown in the not too distant future.

Crown were on top in the opening exchanges on a warm afternoon at Chadderton's well-appointed stadium with a playing surface that is a credit to the ground staff at the Hallmark Security North West Counties League club.

SURGE

George weathered that early Crown surge and had chances themselves to take the lead on three occasions, only for wasteful finishing and good goalkeeping to deny them.

Indeed, George had goalkeeper Michael Henry to thank on a further string of occasions, especially when Crown put on a late surge to rescue the tie.

But it was Crown who took the lead on the very stroke of half-time as Ryan Hobin showed his slithery-as-a -snake approach to latch on to a Dom Hallam pass to round Roy Potts in the George goal and, although he mishit his shot, the ball trickled into the back of the net.

But it was two goals in the space of seven minutes that sealed it for George, who were quadruple winners in the league last season.

In the 70th minute, Leon Melia finished smartly after being put through by a precision Connor Berry pass, before Heap, a trophy final cup winner on past occasions, bent his effort round a well-guarded wall and into the back of the net with Potts rooted to the spot.

And it was Henry - not the tallest of goalkeepers - whose telescopic arms prevented Crown from taking the coveted final into a penalty shoot-out.

Jubilant George manager Warren Berry said: "We just about deserved it and Crown shaded it a little later.

"But we had some key players missing (Chris Robinson and Liam Cashmore) so to win it is a great achievement for us."

CLOSE

Crown manager Paul Marshall said: "We went close in the last ten minutes on a few occasion, but in the end Limeside King George had the edge."

One interesting fact about this one is that Marshall witnessed his son, Grant, playing for the eventual winners.

Marshall added: "I would rather him play for me and I won't tell him what he should do.

"He is an adult and he can make his own choices on who he plays for."

While this was a Titanic struggle between two top sides, it was Crown who were eventually sunk.

CROWN FC: Potts, McNamara, Walker, Slicker, Duffy, Browne, Chadderton, Jackson, Hallam, Beamish, Hobin. Subs: Knapman-Fields, Hubbert, Boucher, Hardman, Grant.

LIMESIDE KING GEORGE: Henry, Ware, Tindall, Marshall, W Berry, Caffrey, Stafford, Buckley, C Berry, Heap, Melia. Subs: Gurr, Cashmore, Palmer, Robinson, Balcerzak.

STAR MAN: Michael Henry (Limeside King George) - Was a defensive stronghold in the absence of Chris Robinson.

REFEREE: L Walker.

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