SUB WALWYN SINKS TRAWLERBOYS!

SUPER SUB Matt Walwyn fired two late goals to win Kirkham & Wesham FA Vase glory at Wembley on Sunday just minutes after coming off the bench (writes Howard Jones).

The 17-year-old Carr Hill A Level Student grabbed a dramatic 84th minute equaliser after Lowestoft Town had held onto an 11th minute lead gifted to them by Kirkham's Phil Thompson a looping header that fizzed over Pete Summerfield's out stretched arms and into the top right hand corner of the goal.

But Walwyn's introduction 12 minutes from time at the home of English football contrived to turn the game on its head.

A four man move involving Ged Smith, Mike Clark's long through ball that split the Suffolk sides's defence apart, saw Sean Paterson feed in the young striker who shrugged off a tackle to fire in at the near post and send the 5,000 massed banks of Kirkham fans into raptures!

And, as if to rub salt into Lowestoft's wounds, he side footed in the Vase winner deep into injury time as he had done at Needham Market in the semi-final, following skipper Dougie Shaw's delightful through pass that saw 28-goal striker Paterson storm through the Lowestoft rearguard.
And unselfishly Paterson drew Town's keeper Andy Reynolds off his line, flicked it right into Walwyn's path and the Vase was on its way to Lancashire!

But the end result was nothing more than Kirkham & Wesham deserved playing their last ever game at the home of English football before being re-branded as AFC Fylde.
It was a fitting tribute to a club that has in recent years been a credit to its community.

Young Walwyn said later: “The dream was to score at Wembley, but twice wasn’t in the script.”

Walwyn, studying for his A levels in the hours building up to the final admitted it was a dream come true.

Boss Mick Fuller who led his side to a unique treble of Second Division Trophy, promotion to North West Counties One and the FA Vase said later:

“This is the original fairytale.
“We were the better side today, but we left it late.
“But it’s all about winning and to win here in front of all these fans is absolutely tremendous.
“We’ll all remember this day for the rest of our lives.”

While the whole of Kirkham & Wesham will rejoice in this success, and young Walwyn may well get all the plaudits, as he rightly will, it should be documented that this was a good to honest team performance from 14 lads who really found something extra when it mattered.

Walwyn’s late double was just reward throughout 90 minutes for the bulk of possession and while Lowestoft will rue the final 10 minutes (including added on time), in truth they really didn’t create enough chances of their own to put the game away after going in front to a rather fortunate own goal so early in the game.

Paterson was voted man of the Final and that was as much recognition for his unselfish late pass that won the game and for his 29th minute effort that came back off the crossbar and ‘keeper Reynolds.

Mark Wane had an shot blocked on the line 10 minutes later by Town defender Neil Plaskett, who to be fair had an outstanding day in the Lowestoft defence amid a torrent of Kirkham pressure, whose late lunge to deny Paterson saved his side – at least until those dramatic last six minutes and added on time.

Lowestoft’s star man Jamie Godbold admitted later: “We were six minutes from glory but that’s how things go sometimes in football.
“Naturally we are all gutted by this - but we will be back.”
For Kirkham & Wesham Wembley was its last hurrah.
Tomorrow AFC Fylde will doubtless take them onto new heights.
Chairman Dai Davis added: “I thought that we thoroughly deserved it and l’m so pleased for everyone connected with the club who has worked so hard for this.

“What Mick (Fuller) and his management team have achieved is nothing short of miraculous – the Vase was the icing on the cake.”
And as if to cap the occasion Davis was later presented with a belated 60th birthday cake just four days after he celebrated his own personal major milestone.

The whole day was, well just mind blowing and for those fortunate enough to witness the whole occasion will live long with them for the rest of their lives.

More AFCFYLDE news coming soon - visit the AFCFYLDE site here

Last Edited: 13/05/2008