Frank Bainbridge Cup Final Sportsmans FC 3 Henleys Athletic 0

SPORTSMANS FC lifted the Frank Bainbridge Cup for the first time in their history at Northallerton on Thursday of last week with what proved to be a comfortable victory over Henleys Athletic.

Goals from Colin Anderson and Aaron Ramsbottom in the first half were added to by Sam Grainger after the break to seal the trophy for the Division One leaders in the first of two cup final meetings between the sides this month.

After a tight opening fifteen minutes in which both sides cancelled each other out, it was Henleys who carved out the first clear-cut opening.

Mark Hemmingway sent a great ball over the top of the Sportsmans defence and Leon Roberts was able to see the whites of goalkeeper Michael Corps’ eyes. However, he seemed to snatch at the opportunity and placed his first time effort from 12 yards wide of the left-hand upright.

That proved to be the turning point as Sportsmans went in front six minutes later.

Anderson got in behind the Henleys defence following a long ball from Grainger and his shot from 15 yards took a deflection on its way past goalkeeper Ian Moore.

Sporties had the ball in the net again moments later when Scott McNichol beat Moore after more good work from Grainger but the offside flag had already been raised.

Henleys looked for a response and produced some very good football in the closing stages of the first half but they lacked any real cutting edge and the nearest they came to an equaliser was a 25 yard shot from Josh Knox which flew just wide of Corpsâ ™ right-hand post.

With half time approaching it was vital Henleys did not concede again, but with just two minutes remaining until the break Sportsmans did grab a second. Edd Craven broke forward from left back and his cross found the head of McNichol eight yards out. Moore did well to parry his initial effort but Ramsbottom arrived to stab the ball home from close range.

And the cup was as good as won two minutes into the second period. Man of the match Anderson drilled a low cross from the right into the Henleys six-yard box and Grainger was on hand to turn the ball past Moore at the second attempt.