HAMBLETON LEAGUE DIVISION TWO BOB SEYMOUR TROPHY FINAL
THREE COOPERS 3 CATTERICK VILLAGE 0
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium
Highlights of this match are available here
TWO goals from Danny Dale and one from Paul Nicholson gave Three Coopers the Bob Seymour Trophy on Thursday evening as they beat Catterick Village at the Calvert Stadium.
The two form sides in Division Two were expected to produce a closely-contested final but it was Coopers' extra fire power that saw them lift the cup.
Dale capitalised on a mistake by Village goalkeeper Karl Latcham to give the Bedale-based side a 31st minute lead before Nicholson fired home a superb second just before the break.
Catterick fought hard to get back into the final in the second period but Dale was on hand to score again 16 minutes from time and there was no way back after that.
Coopers' manager Tony Ross said: "I am absolutely delighted. I thought it was a first class performance, brilliant from all the lads. I can't fault their effort and commitment, and it was just wonderful to see.
"Credit to Catterick. They really made a game of it. They came at us and they battled for the full 90 minutes. We had to match them in every department.
"I think we were the better side and we tried to play the football. We always try to play football. We had the better chances, particularly in the first half. Today everything went well and we are happy with the 3-0."
Both sides came into the final on the back of a good run; Coopers were unbeaten in 12 matches while Village had lost just once in 20. And it was the Catterick side who should have taken an early lead. Danny Allen did well down the left but Stew Fotheringham somehow managed to fire wide of a gapping goal.
That proved crucial when Coopers went ahead just past the half-hour mark. Latcham failed to hold a cross and when Mark Patchett recycled the ball into the penalty area, Dale was on hand to tap home with his left foot.
Coopers were on top now and Adrian Woodward headed just wide before Nicholson doubled their advantage two minutes before the break - skipping past a couple of challenges down the left before firing low past Latcham.
Catterick looked more of a threat in the early stages of the second half but the Coopers defence was not prepared to give anything away and the better chances were all at the other end. Nicholson was denied by a fine save by Latcham before Dale and Jack Reynard both came close.
But it was game over 16 minutes from time. Village momentarily switched off from a throw-in and Dale turned his man before beating Latcham at the second attempt.
Village substitute Michael Ingram did have the ball in the net soon after but his celebrations were cut short by the assistant's offside flag as it proved to be Coopers' night.
Liverpudlian Dale, who dedicated his goals to the Hillsborough victims battle for justice, said: "I've never had a good game in a final so it was decent to get a couple of goals. We didn't play like we can do usually. [Catterick] played long ball a lot which took our midfield out the game, but we got the win and that's all that matters."
Coopers face Catterick again in May what could well prove to be a league title decider and Dale remains confident his team will come out on top again.
"We've been unbeaten in the league since November now so hopefully we can push on and finish that off."
THREE COOPERS - Woodward (D), Woodward (A), Allison, Adams, Parker, Toman, Rayner, Reynard, dale, Nicholson, Patchett. SUBS - Kitchenman, Thomas, Robinson, Coombs, Hodgson.
CATTERICK VILLAGE - Latcham, Kinsley, Smith, King, Ewart, Hodgkinson, Wooff, Lister, Fotheringham, Allen, Rudd. SUBS - Dees, Ingram, Mant-Smith.
REFEREE - P. Scott
ATTENDANCE: 162
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