Craven Football Association

Skipton Building Society

Norman Pratt Trophy Final

Barnoldswick United 3 Kelbrook 1

Barnoldswick, who say the final at Rolls-Royce on Friday went as expected with Kelbrook working hard to spoil their football, retained the trophy they have won every year from 1993 apart from 1996.

On the eight-minute mark they took the lead with a great header from Howard Tyrer.

Kelbrook, in the final for the first time, tried to play football and knocked the ball about well, but lacked the final ball in the last third of the pitch.

A minute before half-time Barnoldswick were awarded a penalty after consistent pressure resulted in keeper Thomas Day bringing Paul Harrison down in the box, and Chris Brennan stepped up and coolly converted the penalty.

The second half was much the same as the first with Kelbrook never giving up trying and Barnoldswick always looking dangerous, with Harrison the main difference between the sides, his skill, vision and pace giving Kelbrook problems all night. On 75 minutes Barnoldswick made it 3-0 when Brennan grabbed his second goal from the edge of the six-yard box.

Most teams would have given up, but Kelbrook kept on pushing and were finally rewarded with a goal in the 87th minute through Steve "Flush" Madill.

Five minutes later the final whistle blew and Barnoldswick skipper Craig Fort stepped up to receive the trophy which United seem to have made their own.

Barnoldswick's Paul Harrison deservedly received the man of the match award, while for Kelbrook Paul Riley shone, covering every blade of grass in his second of three games in three days.

The trophy and individual mementoes were presented by Craven Association president Allan Cawood.

Tonight (Friday) there is the Skipton Building Society Morrison Cup Final between Barnoldswick United and Bentham at Settle, ko 6.30pm.

In the cup's 16th year Barnoldswick have won it twice while Bentham are competing in the final for the first time.

In the semi-finals Bentham ran out easy winners against Earby 9-2 and Barnoldswick beat Cononley 3-0.

The Slater Marchant Craven Challenge Cup Final will be between Skipton Bulldogs and Ingleton at Barnoldswick United next Friday, May 1, ko 6.30pm.

In their semi-final at Gargrave last Thursday Bulldogs beat Embsay 1-0.

It was a close contest between two evenly matched sides and it took a free kick by Iain Tyrer which ended in the back of the net 15 minutes from the end to decide it. In the first half Embsay hit the bar and had a good shot blocked on the line by Andy Bate, but Bulldogs also had their chances and hit the post.

In the dying minutes of the match Embsay were reduced to 10 men when keeper Chris Beck was sent off for showing his frustration in front of the referee.

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