Gledhill Cup Final – Monday May 16th 2011
 | Earlier this evening at a very blustery Bloomfield Road, home of Premier Division side Blackpool FC, the 44th Gledhill Cup Final took place between Division 1 title winners Fleetwood Gym FC and Quilligans FC. Here's an early brief report on proceedings. Hopefully, we'll have some live TV highlights in the very near future. |
Gledhill Cup 2010/11 – Monday, May 16th 2011
Final score : FleetwoodGym FC 0 – 2 Quilligans FC
Unfortunately, the Fyldesport camera is still out of action and in the repair shop but hopefully, some kind souls will send us some pictures for publication. On a positive note, the cameras from Blackpool TV were in attendance and as soon as they've done the business we'll let you have the link to the action.
Despite the rain falling for most of the day the pitch was in excellent condition for this stage of the season and much improved on recent finals. With the strong wind gusting straight off the sea the West stand did a good job of sheltering the playing surface. It was a quiet and nervy opening for both sides. On 12 minutes, Jordan Spedding had the first real opportunity but his long range effort went safely wide of the post.
The opening goal came on 20 minutes. Quill's striker Marc Beattie allowed the ball to go past him before hitting a first time low right footed effort across the Gym keeper and into the far corner. 0-1. Gym created a half chance on 28 minutes when John Beavers dispossed a defender and shot over the bar. A minute later and Quills almost extended their lead. The winger reached the byline and put up a cross for Jordan Spedding who arrived before the ball and could only deflect it over from a yard out. On 39, Greenall went extremely close for Quills when after a probing run down the left his shot beat the Gym keeper but also the far post. Half time. 0-1.
Gym started the second half very brightly and almost equalised but they were denied by Smith in the Quill's goal. The game then died a little with few chances of note before Robbie Boal troubled Quill's keeper Smith from 25 yards forcing a corner with a tip around the post. On 81 Quills sewed things up with a well worked goal. Will watt's trickery resulted in a curling cross that found Martin Baird completely unmarked at the far post. The AFC Blackpool player had time to chest it down and fire home from close range. In the dying minutes it was all Quills as they peppered the Gym goal with shots. Evans hit the post after beating two men and the same player was guilty of a bad niss moments later after Pearson's header hit the post and bounced along the line. The whistle went and once again Mark Spedding's Quilligans FC team had won the Gledhill Cup. A deserved win against spirited opposition who made the Premier Division side work hard for the win.
Marc Beattie was awarded the Man of the Match award by the sponsors.
Scott MacNeill takes Quills through their pre-match warm-up
Meanwhile, Fleetwood Gym took a warm-up session from ex-Burnley player and now professional physio and trainer Rob Molyneux (centre) – aka 'The Magic Sponge Man'
There was no mercy for the Gym boys
Sean Sater enjoys a bit of the rough stuff…
Referee Alan Young leads out the teams
Focused steely stares – apart from Woody who has spotted a camera…
The teams wait to be presented to sponsor Chris Gledhill
The officials with the captains
An early feel of the ball for Quills keeper Mark Smith, who earlier in the day had beaten Gym manager Sean Slater at golf – surely a good omen
Sean Slater and Referee Alan Young
Anthony Pearson
Ex-Quills and now Fleetwood Gym skipper Robbie Boal, showing off his impressive tackle to the crowd
A strike from Marc Beattie on 19 mins beats Gym keeper Big Kyle
Action for The Magic Sponge Man as Robbie Boal is grounded
Stuart Parkinson up against Phil Thompson
Thompson again
Joint Prem top scorer Jordan Spedding (9) narrowly misses from 2 yards out – “the ball was behind me!” he claimed afterwards in the bar…
Gym clear their lines for the next Quills foray
Boaly and Broady – The LFA should have this photo commissioned as a giant mural in ther plush offices
AFC Blackpool Juniors with their Championship trophy and medals – including in their ranks a certain Sportspy Junior
Late Gym substitution
Quilligans collect the Gledhill Trophy
4th Official Steve Ryder, Assistant Michael Jefferson, Referee Alan Young and Assistant Steve Hill
Bad light + cheap camera = poor quality celebration photo!
Sportspy 2010/11
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