08.05.19 Burnley Belvedere 1 Waddington FC 2

Following last season’s promotion to division one
Waddington did their large following of supporters proud as
they produced a tremendously resilient performance to book
their place in the prestigious East Lancs League President’s
Cup final for the first time in the club’s history.
The contrast in styles made for a fascinating game with
Belvedere’s direct no no-nonsense football contrasting vividly
with Waddington’s on the floor passing style. In a tense
opening period Captain Gary Brunskill -leading from the front
-as he has so often has this season – came closest to opening
the scoring with a flashing drive across the face of goal.
Waddington’s twin centre backs David Potts and Nick Frost
stood up to the challenge of the direct long ball to the
towering Belvedere centre forward whilst Dom Ackrigg and
Glen Dinsdale battled manfully to win the midfield clash
against Belvedere’s full-blooded approach.
Waddington paid the price for a momentary lapse on twenty
minutes cost as a long diagonal ball from Belvedere’s left
back found the overlapping winger exploiting the space
behind Phil Darnell and he made no mistake with a rasping
drive into the bottom corner.
Waddington rose to the challenge of going behind and
Dinsdale was unlucky to see a swerving shot from outside the
box hit the crossbar. The villagers finally gained the equalizer
they deserved when Luke Conti’s deep in swinging corner

was firmly headed home by Potts. On thirty minutes Eddie
Drake set off on a fine individual run circling the imposing
defenders before unleashing a powerful shot which the
Belvedere keeper could only parry into the bottom corner. As
half -time loomed a Belvedere free kick was bent around the
wall only for Danny Anderson to pull off yet another
remarkable save to tip the ball out for a corner.
Waddington opened the second half in the ascendancy with
Drake cutting into the box and squaring for James Taylor
whose goal bound effort was cleared off the line with the
keeper well beaten. John Pickup, Dinsdale and Anton
Gawthorpe began to win the physical contest driving
Belvedere to become even more direct throwing their two
hefty centre backs upfield in a desperate attempt for an
equalizer. A series of free kicks and corners forced
Waddington onto the back foot in the closing stages. On one
of the few occasions when Belvedere managed a clean
header at goal Conti was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Chris Baron and Connor Howarth joined the fray and their
pace and creativity on the counter attack helped Waddington
to safely see the game out. The final whistle was greeted
with huge cheers from Waddington’s buoyant supporters. All
at the club now look forward to the final to be played tonight
(Thursday) at Padiham F.C. with a 7pm KO.