Slyne with Hest 0-2 Fulwood Amateurs
Light Distribution Amateur Shield semi final
Tuesday 17th April
The County Ground
Goalscorers: Parkinson (60), Blackwell (90)

Fulwood Amateurs set up a tasty final with Garstang after a comprehensive victory over Slyne with Hest.

In a strong attacking display, Fulwood could have won by a greater margin, but in the end, second-half goals from Danny Parkinson and Phil Blackwell.

Slyne enjoyed a bright start and Josh Graycott saw a shot fall wide, but after a tentative beginning between both sides, Fulwood began to grow into the game.

Chris Bennett was lively for the away team, storming into the penalty area on numerous occasions.

He was part of a well-worked attacking move on 36 minutes, flicking the ball to Parkinson who drilled in a low right-sided cross from the byline. Jonty McDonald was waiting in the centre but a solid last-ditch Slyne tackle thwarted his efforts.

And it was Bennett who forced another stop from Slyne ‘keeper Callum Morris shortly before half time after dancing into the box to try his luck from close range.

After the interval, it was Slyne who threatened immediately and they should have done better with a nice piece of play around the box, but Reece Pearce could only smash his shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

But Fulwood turned up the heat and forced Slyne into several clearances and blocks from in front of their goal, instigated mostly by Parkinson who was a handful all evening.

And he got his reward on the hour mark when McDonald’s free-kick caused a scramble in the box, as both sets of shirts tried to connect with the ball.

It was scooped clear, but only as far as Parkinson, who found himself with enough space within the area to ripple the back of the net with a scorching strike.

Bennett continued to hassle the Slyne back line and should have added to Fulwood’s tally six minutes later, when he steered the ball around the oncoming Morris but found a plethora of blue shirts who were able to throw themselves in and clear the danger.

It was Morris who denied Bennett once more on the 77th minute, blocking well with his feet as Bennett flew into the penalty area on the offensive, determined to score the goal his efforts deserved.

Slyne then stepped up their search for an equaliser, restricting Fulwood to counter-attacks and forcing them to concentrate their efforts on holding on to their lead.

The home side worked their way into the box, edging closer and closer, but Aaron Taylor’s close-range effort was stopped on the line by Fulwood ‘keeper Luca De Niro.

Fulwood continued to seize the opportunity to attack whenever possible and with two minutes remaining, Bennett launched a counter-attack and won a penalty after drawing a foul from Morris.

Phil Blackwell stepped up confidently to bury his spot-kick and seal Fulwood’s place in the final.

Slyne with Hest: Morris, Dixon, Coulthard, Bell, Crossley, Draycott, Pearce, Kaye (Lamb, 73), Taylor, Moore, Woods
Subs not used: Galley, Kitchen, Rigby

Fulwood Amateurs: Di Niro, Dewhurst, Nagy, Blackwell (Clare, 90), Nightingale (Wilding, 11), Jacques, McDonald, Braithwaite, Bennett, Dunn (Barratt, 78), Parkinson
Subs not used: Pitt