Kyle Dempsey had been making the wrong kind of headlines this year – but that changed at Wembley this afternoon.
The Maryport youngster, who started his career with Carlisle United, was named man of the match as he helped Bolton Wanderers beat Plymouth Argyle in the final of the Papa John’s Trophy.
Dempsey scored the first, made the second and was generally a thorn in Plymouth’s side throughout the 74 minutes he was on the pitch.
But last month made the wrong kind of news locally when he appeared in court.
Dempsey, along with his dad Michael, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court and admitted assaulting doorman Daryl Jarvis, causing him actual bodily harm, while he was working at Maryport Labour Club on July 16 last year.
The pair have sought to explain their criminal conduct in a court document known as a basis of plea. Their legal team have said this basis amounts to the contention that self-defence by both men was excessive.
The prosecution had been given time to consider this basis of plea, which must be agreed by both sides before the case proceeds to sentence.
That certainly didn’t appear to be on his mind at Wembley where he tormented Plymouth in front of a 79,000 crowd and helped Bolton win their first Cup competition since 1989.
Bolton – under former Barrow manager Ian Evatt will hope to put results together in League One to help them earn a return ticket to Wembley and the possibility of promotion via the play-offs.
There were just four minutes on the clock when Dempsey headed his side in front, getting on the end of a corner from Declan John.
Six minutes later Dempsey turned provider when he helped open-up the Argyle defence before squaring the ball for top scorer Dion Charles to drive past keeper Callum Burton.
Dempsey went close to a third when he had a goal-bound effort blocked by a Plymouth defender.
Then it was Burton who saved Plymouth more trouble when he got down well to keep out another Dempsey effort.
Dempsey also set up Charles for other strike on goal and he was disappointed to see his effort fly over the bar.
If half-time was a respite for Plymouth it didn’t last long. Four minutes after the re-start Charles worked the ball through forElias Kachunga to calmy steer home the third.
Wanderers continued to dominate and it became all over as a contest on 62 minutes when Gethin Jones headed in from a corner.
