Reds take Trophy

STANLEY 4 (7) BURSCOUGH 0 (0)
 
STANLEY at least finished the season with one piece of silverware after captain for the night Jonathan Smith lifted the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy.

Smith, with six seasons at Stanley, played his final game for the Reds alongside Paul Howarth, Steve Flitcroft and goalkeeper Jon Kennedy as all were released this week along with striker Lutel James while
defender Steve Halford went on the transfer list.

But local lad Smith admitted it was an emotional end to an eventful career: "I had a tear in my eye at the end but the lads were giving me stick. It was an honour to be captain and an honour to lift the trophy.

"I have no regrets. I wish the club all the best."

The tall defender is already sizing up offers from Barrow and Stalybridge but had a part to play for the Reds last night.

It was always a forgone conclusion after leading 3-0 from the first leg against the UniBond Premier play-off chasers.

And when Dave McKearney turned a Rory Prendergast cross into his own net on five minutes it was all over. Paul Cook added a second with a 20 yard curling effort before he blasted home a third on the stroke of half time to make it 6-0 on aggregate.

Cook, going for his first ever hat-trick, then had a  penalty saved before Steve Flitcroft fired home the fourth on the night. The scoreline suggested it was one-sided but Burscough never gave up the fight and Jon Kennedy had to produce three top class saves to keep out the Linnets.

And, they had to struggle with 10 men from 66 minutes when Ian Johnson was stretchered off and they had used all their substitutes.

"It is a good trophy to win and it was important to win it," said boss John Coleman. "The problem is we are still suffering the hangover from the play-offs but this trophy always means something. We were delighted to win it three years ago and we are again."

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