2023 LAUNCESTON K.O CUP Final
NORTH PETHERWIN 2-0 KILKHAMPTON
Ben Sharpe, Darren Samways
BADGERS' LATE SHOW WINS LAUNCESTON CUP
Late goals from Ben Sharpe and Darren Samways secured North Petherwin, their second Launceston Cup crown last Tuesday night as they beat Kilkhampton 2-0 at Pennygillam.
The contest took a while to ignite as, was the case for most of the evening, defences were on top. Both sides had chances, Sharpe twice the striking the frame of the goal in the first half while Coles had to deny front man Ryan Thomas and Adam Sleeman amongst others. The opener came on 86 minutes when Sharpe reached a superb Samways ball before goalkeeper Leam Powell to score, then Samways guaranteed the victory by slotting into an empty net from 40 yards.
Both sides have enjoyed excellent campaigns with North Petherwin going into the game second in the East Cornwall Premier League while Kilkhampton are solidly in mid-table of the North Devon Premier Division having finished their league season three days earlier.
In front of an excellent crowd of 193, the game started scrappily as both sides looked to settle in. The first real chance arrived on 12 minutes as good play down the left by wing back Jason Heard saw him cut inside before playing it to Ryan Thomas who laid it off for strike partner Adam Sleeman to fire over from the edge of the box.
Former Launceston centre half Matt Steiner made a fine sliding challenge on Sleeman as he prepared to shoot before Shaun Thomas did likewise in the Kilkhampton box.
On 26 minutes the Lambs had a series of chances in succession, first Steiner had to be alert to deny Ryan Thomas in the box before moments later Petherwin goalkeeper Tom Coles got down well at his near post to deny Sleeman from 15 yards. From the following corner, Coles dropped the ball but redeemed himself by blocking Matt Jones’ low drive with his legs. Moments later, Ryan Thomas missed a good chance in a two-on-one situation some 25 yards out he tried to lob Coles instead of feeding Jay Needham.
Powell had been a virtual spectator and was once again on 29 minutes, good play by Josh Sanders and the industrious Kevin Hatch ended with Sharpe thundering a 20 yard shot off the angle of bar and post which Powell could only watch.
Sharp's luck was out again six minutes later as Brandon Stott’s ball released him down the right and after outpacing David Hales he hammered another drive from outside of the box that beat Powell but smashed the crossbar at the near post. Petherwin's final chance of the first half came when Sanders made room for himself on the edge of the box before skewing his shot well wide.
The Badgers lost left back Callum Reeve to injury just three minutes into the second half which meant Hatch moved to left back. Alfie Rowland came on to the right wing, Sharpe went up front and Sanders dropped back into a midfield three.
Kilk' were looking dangerous on the counter and Heard shot wide after a quick transition, while Hatch made a fine challenge when Needham was played in by Sleeman. Coles then had to be at his best on the hour as Ryan Thomas and Sleeman combined down the left before Coles spread himself to deny the former.
Jones had a header tipped away by Coles from a Ben Thomas free-kick, before the first card of the evening arrived on 69 minutes when Sanders was guilty of a late challenge on a Kilk' player in midfield and was shown a yellow card. Hatch was also booked on 74 minutes for taking out Sleeman following some impressive play down the right by Tom Shadrick.
Petherwin brought on veteran Samways for Sanders with five minutes to go. Hatch was taken off for Finn Reeve. With no extra-time scheduled it appeared that penalties were on the way, before the Badgers took the lead on 86 minutes.
Samways sent a superb ball from the centre of the pitch towards the right side of the box, Powell for no reason came rushing out, Sharpe got there first and sent a shot towards goal that brushed one of the two covering defenders and rolled into the empty net.
Jones was booked by referee Davey Green as added time got underway for a stray elbow before Samways doubled their lead. The excellent Shaun Thomas won a defensive free-kick close to the corner flag, leaving Powell to kick the ball up field. However, the youngster scuffed his kick towards the centre circle where Samways sent the ball back into an empty net to spark wild celebrations from the Petherwin players.
The rest of the game passed without incident as Petherwin were crowned champions seven years after their first title.
NORTHER PETHERWIN: T. Coles, N. Farrer, M. Stainer, R. Goodman, C .Reeve, J. Reeve (capt) B. Stott, K. Hatch, B. Sharpe, J. Sanders, A.Williams, Subs: F .Reeve, S. Watts, N. Heywood D. Samways A. Rowland
KILKHAMPTON: L. Powell, T. Shadrick, S. Thomas, D. Hales, J. Needham, B. Thomas, M. Jones A. Slade, J. Heard, R, Thomas A, Sleeman Subs: H. Nancekivell, B. Meaker, A. James A. Cleave. L. Hopgood
Referee: Davey Green Assistant Referees Adrian Clements and Chris Sillifant.
Attendance 193