Garstang 2-3 Fulwood Amateurs
Light Distribution Amateur Shield final
Wednesday 25th April
The County Ground
Goalscorers: Hothersall (27), Dewhurst (43), McDonald (45), A Coar (48), Blackwell (89)

Fulwood Amateurs came from behind to overcome Garstang and lift the Light Distribution Amateur Shield for the third time in their history.

After initially taking the lead through Jonny Hothersall, Garstang found themselves 2-1 down at the break thanks to two quick-fire Fulwood goals through Harli Dewhurst and Jonty McDonald.

Alan Coar hit back immediately after half time, but a last-gasp penalty by Phil Blackwell wrapped up the win for Fulwood after a hard-fought encounter between the two West Lancashire Football League Premier Division sides.

In a first half of few clear-cut chances, Garstang broke the deadlock shortly before the half-hour mark, as Hothersall latched onto a low pass into the box and slotted home coolly into the bottom corner.

But Fulwood hit back with two goals in two minutes just before half time.

Dewhurst got onto the scoresheet after a free-kick was fumbled by Garstang keeper Dan Curwen, with the defender well-placed to poke the ball over the line.

And McDonald gave his side the advantage with an angled drive from the left-hand side of the box.

Garstang had enjoyed more possession and looked a threat during the first half and they were soon back in the game after the interval, as Alan Coar met a cross with a thumping header to level the scores.

The two sides exchanged chances; Hothersall fired over the bar from the edge of the box, before Danny Parkinson wriggled in between the defence but failed to round Curwen from a one-on-one and could only ripple the side netting.

Then just two minutes from the end, Fulwood were awarded a penalty after Parkinson was upended in the box.

And, just as he had done in the semi final against Slyne with Hest, Blackwell stepped up to successfully dispatch his spot-kick and send the Fulwood faithful into raptures.

Garstang: Curwen, Birch, Swindlehurst, O’Connor, Fawcett (C), Sailor, Byrne (R Coar, 64), Entwistle, A Coar (Dodd, 86), Salisbury (Graham, 72), Hothersall
Subs not used: Towers, Poole

Fulwood Amateurs: Di Niro, Wilding, Nagy, Blackwell, Dewhurst (Nightingale, 75), Jaques, McDonald, Braithwaite (C), Bennett, Dunn, Parkinson
Subs not used: Barrett, Pitt, Unsworth, Vevers