Carlisle City landed the County Cup for the first time in 18 years – and are hoping to make it double celebrations with the Northern League Division Two title.
They beat Westmorland League side Wetheriggs 4-0 in last night’s final at Frenchfield, Penrith in front of a 530 crowd.
Triumphant City manager Jim Nichols said: “I think we scored our goals at the right time and Wetheriggs gave it a real go, but I thought our extra know-how saw us through.
“It’s great for the club that we have won the trophy again after such a long gap and now we can concentrate on our two remaining league games.”
City go to Esh Winning on Thursday night to take on a side fighting for their lives near the bottom. The Cumbrians need to win which would take them two points behind long time leaders Heaton Stannington, and both play their final games on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Wetheriggs also have a league title in their sights, which would be consolation for losing three cup finals this season.
Secretary Colin Parker said: “We have a tough-looking game at Endmoor KGR and we have worked out that we need nine points from our last seven games to be sure of the title.
“In the County Cup final we have to say congratulations to Carlisle City for their win but I thought we played some decent football, particularly in the first half, and kept going to the end.
“We conceded goals in the first minute of each half and they were really telling blows.”
With the game kicking off a good three minutes early, many entering the ground had already missed the first goal as City scored in the first minute. From Palmer’s well-flighted corner, Atkinson was left unmarked to power his header past Strand.
It was all City in the early stages as Wetheriggs struggled to settle, and a free-kick was cleared to Bowman who saw his shot saved by Strand.
A foul on Simpson then saw another Palmer free-kick cleared by the Wetheriggs defence. Irving should really have added a second on six minutes as he lobbed over Strand but the ball bounced wide.
Wetheriggs threatened for the first time on nine minutes as Coleman’s free-kick was blocked by the City wall and Townsley did very well to push aside the follow-up from Gate.
A quick break then from City saw Holt put Palmer in the clear but a heavy touch ruined his chance.
The City leading scorer did hit the target on 12 minutes but Strand saved, and the City pressure continued as Irving was fouled by Cham, and Atkinson’s effort from the free-kick was saved by the busy Strand.
Wetheriggs did enjoy spells of possession and Kirkup did well to clear on 23 minutes. Simpson then fired over from 20 yards before a Wetheriggs free-kick in a dangerous area on 26 minutes was safely cleared by the City defence.
Possibly the closest that Wetheriggs came to scoring in the first period was a 27th-minute effort from Johnson which finished in the side-netting.
On the half-hour, it was 2-0 to City with almost a carbon copy of the first goal. Palmer’s corner from the left was met by the head of Atkinson at the front post for his eighth goal in the last four games.
The second period started even more dramatically than the first as City added a third goal within 30 seconds.
A defensive mix-up allowed Holt to take advantage and beat Strand for his 12th goal of the season. Just like the first period, City then created a lot of early chances, with Atkinson hitting the defensive wall with his free-kick.
An excellent shot from Palmer was tipped over well by Strand with the resulting corner headed wide by Kirkup.
Wetheriggs made a change as Humphries replaced Lawson and Irving then won a corner for City before heading the cross against the bar from close range.
Enjoying a busy few minutes, Irving then hit the post with another effort before Coleman was booked for Wetheriggs. Deservedly voted man of the match, Irving then again was so close to scoring on 61 minutes when he had a header saved by Strand.
Another City chance saw Atkinson round Strand and stay on his feet under a challenge, to slip the ball to Holt but his effort was smothered close to goal.
Red card
On 70 minutes, Atkinson was close with a shot before matters got worse for Wetheriggs as player-manager Murray-Jones received a second yellow card and was sent off on 70 minutes.
To their credit, Wetheriggs kept plugging away with Hartley doing well to block a shot close to the City line.
Atkinson was close again with a few minutes to go and City’s cake was iced deep into injury time when fine approach play from Longcake set up Grandison for his first goal for the club.
TEAMS – CITY – Townsley, Olsen, Hartley, Bowman, Kirkup, Holt, Irving, Simpson, Atkinson, Seggie, Palmer SUBS- Grandison, H Atkinson, Johnstone, Longcake, Studholme
WETHERIGGS – Strand, Lawson, Walton, Housby, Key, Oliver, Johnson, Murray-Jones, Coleman, Gate, Cham SUBS- Murray, Turner, Humphreys, Mills
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