PHOTOS:
Winners Hakin United



Herbrandston

Ryan Wilson and Adrian Hutchings
Ben Aldred and Adrian Hutchings
Match officials

Hakin United 6 - Herbrandston 0

Venue: Marble Hall

Match officials: Referee: Bernie Armstrong.

Assistants: Gareth Elliott and Andrew Burgoyne.


For the seventh successive season, Hakin United captured the Joe Lennon Cup as they hit six past Herbrandston - with four of the latter's former players on the score sheet.

Joe, who died in December 2010, aged 60, was a highly renowned character in local football best known for his sterling work with the juniors at The Vikings - and again a sizeable crowd turned out to honour his memory at Marble Hall.

Herbie, under their new management team of  Sean Thomas and Jonty Bennett, were in the final for the first time but didn't have either of their regular keepers available for the clash - and were forced to field centre back Adrian Rees in goal.

But they could have been ahead inside a minute as skipper Scott Reid met Ryan Davies' left foot cross, but the striker failed to keep his effort down from close range.

Walsh's precise finish

Soon though Hakin were in their stride as Shane Walsh opened the scoring with a precise finish into the bottom corner.

Justin Harding made it 2-0 when he was on hand to turn in Ali Ouzman's deflected strike - while at the other end Reid went clean through and this time finished clinically, only to learn referee Bernie Armstrong had already blown for a foul in the build up.

To be fair to Rees, he gave 100% in the Herbie goal, saving well from Adam John and rushing off his line to thwart Ouzman - but Kristan Bennett's side made it 3-0 when Leigh Marchant slid home from a Mark Jones cross.

Ouzman on target with fourth

And it was 4-0 inside 30 minutes as Jones teed up Ouzman, both of who were key players for Herbie last season, and the winger turned sharply before placing his shot past Rees.

Harding was denied a second by the diving keeper and before half time Reid threatened for Herbie again, but was taken out by Manson some 25 yards out of his goal and the free kick that followed came to nothing.

Herbie didn't cave in and did cause Hakin problems early in the second half - Davies volleying wide and new winger Andre Algieri teeing up Jayden Chapman, but his close range effort was diverted round the post by Manson.

Goal of the game

For The Vikings Ouzman went close again before Jones scored the goal of the game, firing into the top corner from 20 yards after a lay off from Adrian Devonald.

And Devonald, who played in goal for the Division One champions last season but is set to play outfield this year, made it 6-0 with a left foot finish after a one-two with Louis Thompson.

Afterwards it was Milford manager Adrian Hutchings who spoke briefly about Joe's legacy and presented the trophy to Hakin captain Ryan Wilson, and the man of the match award to Ben Aldred, who was faultless over the 90 minutes.

For Bennett's side, attention will now turn to Tuesday night and their Jubilee Cup match with Goodwick United.

Hakin United: James Manson, Jimmy Walker, Leigh Marchant, Ben Aldred, Mark Jones, Craig Nicholson, Ali Ouzman, Ryan Wilson, Adam John, Shane Walsh, Justin Harding. Subs: Adrian Devonald, Bradley Barrett, Ewan Findlay, Louis Thompson.

Herbrandston: Adrian Rees, Archie Maccallum, Jake Houston, James Lewis, Ryan Davies, Andre Algieri, Jake Barrett, Dylan Hawkridge, Ryan Nolan, Scott Reid, Jayden Chapman. Subs: Scott Findlay, Callum English, Lee James, McCauley Carter, Joel Yeomans.