VALE OF LUNE RUFC (Powderhouse Lane)

WESTMORLAND COUNTY FA SENIOR CUP FINAL, MILNTHORPE CORINTHIANS 6-1 MARSH UNITED, ATTENDANCE: 416

This afternoon I made the pilgrimage to Lancaster for an interesting game at an interesting venue. I certainly wasn't the only groundhopper with the same opinion and there were plenty of familiar faces in amongst the bumper crowd.

The Westmorland FA Senior Cup Final was taking place at Powderhouse Lane, the home of Vale of Lune rugby union club. The Lune is the river than runs through the city and the rugby club is near the border of Lancaster and Morecambe. A chance to watch football at a rugby ground? Yes please!

All good but why is the Westmorland Cup Final being held in another county? Well simply it's because the competition had taken longer to reach its conclusion, due to the enforced Covid break, the regular venue for the showpiece final, Kendal Town, was unavailable. Vale of Lune agreed to host so this is probably a one-off occasion. This decision to go beyond the county line was not without controversy but the the organisation more than justified it. 

The centrepiece of the ground is the main stand, which is an unusual looking structure on the halfway line. There is terracing either side of the stand but the rest of ground is flat standing. There is a raised platform outside the clubhouse behind the goal which, on a baking hot day, was very busy today.

The two finalists compete in different leagues. Milnthorpe Corinthians are members of  the West Lancashire League whilst Marsh United are members of the North Lancashire and District League.

There was an obvious gulf in class between the sides as Milnthorpe comprehensively dispatched Marsh United.

It was a tight opening 20 minutes but once Charlie Morton headed home from a corner to open it was game over. Within five minutes of that opener it was 3-0 to Milnthorpe as Steve Yawson scored a quick brace. A free kick was deflected into his own goal by Jamie Woodruff just before half time, which could have made things interesting, but Milnthorpe's dominance continued in the second half as Morton scored his second and Yawson completed his hat-trick. Aaron Hoyle made in 6-1 with a penalty late on to ensure Corinthians retained the trophy for another year.

You can watch match highlights by clicking here

...and with that another Covid-19 interrupted season ends for me. It has been good to get out and about these last few weeks and watch football at levels which I would not normally consider. That will change going forward. I will return in a few weeks when season 2021/22 is scheduled to kick off competitively in early July. Hopefully that remains so. Until then, stay safe and look after each other.

BLACKPOOL WREN ROVERS (Bruce Park)

WEST LANCASHIRE LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, BLACKPOOL WREN ROVERS 2-1 VICKERSTOWN, ATTENDANCE: 47 (h/c)

After a season long break, it's a warm welcome back from me!

2020 has certainly been an 'annus horribilis' thus far with this awful Covid-19 causing misery around the globe, leading to normality being suspended as a nationwide lockdown occurred. 

Football was curtailed in March and, with the odd exception, non-league was null and voided. After a break of six months, competitive action returned this weekend as most leagues at step 5 and below began playing once more. It has certainly helped my mental health having a game to look forward to on a Saturday afternoon.

I decided on a trip up to the Fylde coast to watch Blackpool Wren Rovers, who play at step 7 on the pyramid, as they were taking on Vickerstown at Bruce Park. Very generously, it was free admission this afternoon but there was no paperwork, if that's your thing.

The ground is on School Road, on the South Shore of Blackpool, and is one of three grounds within yards of each other. Squires Gate is literally over the fence (see pictures below) whilst AFC Blackpool are located 400 yards away on Jepson Way.

Bruce Park is all standing, with cover on all four sides. There is plenty of room to social distance! Some parts of the ground are probably in need of a little TLC but I really liked the set up here.

Blackpool Wren Rovers were founded in 1931 and were originally known as Wren Rovers before changing their name to Blackpool Rovers in 1990. They were founder members of the West Lancashire League in 1959 and of the North West Counties League in 1982.

Financial constraints led to the club taking voluntary demotion back to the West Lancashire League in 1998 where they changed their name again, this time to Blackpool Wren Rovers.

The game was an entertaining affair, which was largely dominated by the home side. However Vickerstown, who are based in Barrow-in-Furness, were resolute in their defending whilst Rovers were profligate in attack. The deadlock was eventually broken after 35 minutes when an unmarked Anthony Pearson stooped to head home from a corner (pictured below).

The second half continued in a similar fashion but Rovers failed to extend their lead and, as what usually happens, the side under pressure get their chance and score. Vickerstown bagged an equaliser on 70 minutes through Jackson Round.

The game moved into the final ten minutes and it seemed the draw was the more likely outcome but another corner kick was headed home by Chris Morris to give Blackpool a winning start to the season.