The first County Cup Finals of the season took place on Sunday 18 March, with Workington Reds Juniors and Stanwix JFC claiming the first trophies of the 2018 campaign.

With adverse weather conditions causing issues across the county, the pitch at Whitehaven AFC was deemed playable and the first finals of the season were given the go ahead.

REPORT: U16 COUNTY CUP FINAL

Cleator Moor Celtic JFC v Workington Reds Juniors

Match Officials:  Referee: Lee Fox, Assistant Referees: Grace Law and Zak Anderson

The Under 16 County Cup Final was the first meeting between the two local sides this season, with Workington Reds Juniors currently unbeaten and top of the West Cumbria Youth League with the green and white hoops of Cleator Moor Celtic JFC sitting in 3rd position.

Once the pre-match formalities were completed the game started with Workington Reds Juniors applying early pressure. They were rewarded with the first goal of the game following a goalmouth scramble with Pickering getting the finishing touch.

The Reds continued to stay on top but were unable to finish their chances and the first half ended with Workington Reds Juniors leading 1-0.

Cleator Moor Celtic JFC got into their stride in the second half and were quick to create their first real chance of the game. The game became end-to-end with both teams having opportunities. Cleator Moor Celtic JFC had a couple of half chances to equalise in the final 10 minutes. Reuban Butterworth made the breakthrough with less than five minutes of the Final remaining, making the score 1-1 and sending the game into extra time.

FULL TIME: Cleator Moor Celtic JFC 1 – 1 Workington Reds Juniors

There were no goals during extra time. Both teams had periods of domination with the wind also playing a factor, however neither could hit the back of the net and eventually referee Lee Fox blew the whistle to bring an end to the Final which would now be decided by a penalty shootout.

Workington Reds Juniors scored each of their four penalties to win the shootout 4-2 and win the Cumberland FA County Cup! 

FINAL RESULT: Cleator Moor Celtic JFC 1 - 1 (AET) Workington Reds Juniors (Penalties 2 – 4)

Congratulations to our newly crowned Under 16 County Cup Champions, Workington Reds Juniors, on their victory and commiserations to Cleator Moor Celtic JFC, who more than played their part in an entertaining Final.

Cleator Moor Celtic JFC – J Green, J Nicholson, J Roberts, O Bell, J Banney, M Starks, O Woods, J McAllister, R Butterworth, B Starkey, J Shepherd. Substitutes: S Forsythe, W Jones, J Law, J Martin

Workington Reds Juniors – A Carter, B Harrison, J Curwen, M Pickering, E Demetiou, M Goldie, L Lewis, L Pickering, L Dmytrowski, B Younghusband. Substitutes: T Houghton, J Wise, E Neil

REPORT: UNDER 16 GIRLS COUNTY CUP FINAL

Stanwix JFC Hornets v Carlisle City JFC

Match Officials: Referee: Grace Law, Assistant Referees: Zak Anderson and Cameron Meighan

With both teams playing in the Cumberland FA Women’s League, the girls have played against each throughout the season and know each other well. Stanwix JFC won the Under 14 County Cup two years ago after having a solid season in the league, finishing runners up while Carlisle City JFC finished 3rd.

The Girls County Cup Final was slightly delayed due to the previous Final going all the way to penalties. The teams had completed their preparations and once the pre-match formalities were over the Carlisle based teams were lined up and ready to go.

The game started frantically with both teams having chances and the game went from end to end. However, it was Stanwix JFC who got the breakthrough with Esther Attwood lashing the ball into the back of the net. Following kick-off, Carlisle City JFC equalised almost immediately with Tweddle slotting the ball past O’Roarty in the Stanwix goal. There were chances for both teams but Todhunter in the City goal and O’Roarty in the opposite goal made some excellent saves to keep the scoreline the same. Ashleigh Mitchell then scored to make it 2-1.

HALF TIME: Stanwix JFC 2 – 1 Carlisle City JFC

Stanwix JFC got an early goal in the second half from Mitchell before Forster pulled one back for City to make it 3-2. Yard restored Stanwix’s two goal cushion before Attwood scored her second of the match to make it 5-2. Yard completed the scoring to make the final score 6-2

FULL TIME: Stanwix JFC 6 – 2 Carlisle City JFC

Congratulations to newly crowned Under 16 Girls County Cup Champions Stanwix JFC on their victory and commiserations to Carlisle City JFC who will come back stronger next season!

Stanwix JFC: C O’Roarty, I Reynolds, E Garbutt, A Eagling, E Attwood, A Walls, A Mitchell, K Yard, A Heaton, M Steadman

Carlisle City JFC: R Todhunter, E Boertien, I Mehmet, S Thomson, A Forster, V Buzniak, N Brown, J Flannery, Z Tweddle, I Mehmet, J Babik. Substitutes: F Sewell, E Fergusson, R Jackson

Cumberland FA would like to thank Whitehaven AFC for hosting the first County Cup Finals of the season.

Pictures from each final are available to download, hosted by Wittwoo.com. Click on the links below for more information. 

UNDER 16

GIRLS UNDER 16