Fuller salutes his cup double kings

Avro F.C. Gilchrist Cup Winners

IT took a late goal from Mike Barnes-Gott to secure Avro’s Manchester League Gilgryst Cup final success against a Royton Town side forced to play with 10 men for more than 80 minutes.

Town’s Andy Bainbridge saw red in the eighth minute following a last-man challenge – a decision which was questioned at length by some of the Royton players.

Town manager Mark Howard said: “I didn’t see the incident fully, but I have my doubts about the dismissal. It wasn’t our night, but it has been a great season. We could have done better in the league, though.

“We did well to play so long with 10 men and we had to change our formation a few times in an attempt to stay in the game and then try to win it.”

Avro manager Rob Fuller said: “It was a typical final really, with both teams mindful of the fact they didn’t want to get beat.

“A local derby added to the closeness of the match and, of course, Royton were down to 10 men for a long time.

“It has been a great season for us with two trophies and we could finish as runners-up in the Premier Division on Saturday.”

Fuller’s men overcame Beechfield United in the Manchester County FA Challenge Trophy and face Walshaw Sports tomorrow in a play-off tie in Bury to determine second spot in the league.

Despite the shock of Bainbridge’s early sending off, it was Howard’s side who took the lead after 21 minutes when Carl Caffrey scrambled the ball home from close range.

It wasn’t until 10 minutes after half time that Avro drew level when Cain Wallwork’s deflected 20-yard free-kick found the back of the net. And then came Barnes-Gott’s winner with just five minutes remaining as he superbly bent his 25-yard free-kick round the Town wall – a goal worthy of winning any cup final.

But you had to feel sorry for Town.

AVRO: Edwards, Edge, McNally, Jackson, Hickman, Wallwork, Sagar, Cook, Barnes-Gott, Stewart, Ellis. Subs: Fuller, Robinson, Hulme, Rathbone, Lyndon.
ROYTON TOWN: Howard, Bainbridge, Schuman, Schofield, Dempsey, Dean, Coe, Gilmartin, Caffrey, Moss, Valentine. Subs: Harrison, Siwka, Manning, Hill, Wilkinson.