The Lancashire and Cheshire AFL and the Lancashire Amateur FL have played annual Inter League fixtures against each other for the best part of a hundred years.
In recent years the winning team have won the John Howard Trophy, presented by a former L&C President and legend.
This season’s match was played at the excellent venue of Daisy Hill FC and produced another typically tight contest.
A minute's silence was observed in memory of both Ron Bowker and Aamar Ahmed. Ron was a long standing member of the LAL Committee as well as previously being Club Secretary of Old Mostonians. Aamar was heavily involved at Bolton Wyresdale before joining the LAL Committee. He was also heaving involved with Lancashire FA and the FA.
There were plenty of early chances at both ends with the LAL hitting the post twice and a good save also required from the L&C keeper Tomasz KOPERWAS (Bedians).
From a free kick there was a scramble in the LAL box with the ball managing to go wide but it was a good opportunity missed.
Play moved quickly to the other end with the LAL being awarded a penalty which was saved.
Unfortunately, the keeper has come forward off his line so the kick was retaken only to be a saved a second time by Tomasz to make it 0-0 at half time.
A few minutes into the second half, the ball found L&C’s captain Dean DAVIES (AFC Monton) in the box and he managed to coolly put it in the bottom corner to take the lead.
The game continued as a close fought affair with neither team giving ground.
The LAL managed to hit the bar and quickly followed this up with a good strike from the edge of the box to level the score. They continued to apply more pressure with a good tackle stopping an LAL player on the edge of the box, followed by a bit of luck with a good shot glancing the top of the bar.
A late LAL free kick from a dangerous position did threaten but was well headed away by the L&C defence.
This was quickly followed by a corner cleared off the line and then a good save by the keeper, it was all busy in the L&C box but somehow the scores stayed at 1-1.
The L&C had a late chance at the far end going just wide of the post making it 1-1 at the end to take the match into penalties!
Tomasz managed to save another with the LAL putting one wide making 4-2 with the L&C taking home the John Howard Trophy after the LAL had been kind custodians the previous two seasons.
It was the fourth time that the proud team manager Rob O’Connor has won the trophy for the L&C. The League would like thank Rob and all the players and clubs who have supported him in reclaiming the Trophy.
With the John Howard Trophy – Dean Davies, Rob O’Connor, L&C President James Keeley