Poulton hold on to secure Presidents Cup success

Tyler Hallan’s early double was the perfect start for John Wigglesworth’s young side – but Mill Hill, two divisions lower than the Premier Division outfit, rallied and reduced the arrears through Harvey O Toole’s header on 31 minutes.

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Poulton restored their two goal advantage when Dan Smith powered home a left footed piledriver from 20 yards on 69 minutes.

But Mill Hill refused to buckle and Harrison Kay’s slide-rule finish eight minutes later set up a frantic finale.

The Blackburn-side threw everything at Poulton in seven, tense injury time minutes but they couldn’t breach their defence to see the cup head back to the Fylde coast.

A crowd of 316 watched the end-to-end final tie - controlled superbly by referee Rob Greenwood - at Bamber Bridge's Irongate ground.

Wigglesworth said: “To be able to deliver a trophy in my first full season for this incredible club is such a feeling of pride.

“For most of them this is their first men’s season let alone their first cup final. When we went 2-0 up I didn’t think it was done.

“I knew how good Mill Hill were so you can never count your chickens.

“The seven minutes injury time felt like hours and probably for Mill Hill it felt like 30 seconds.

"But when that whistle went it made the last 12 months worth it. To watch the lads celebrate now I am so proud.”

Mill Hill’s Nick McPartland said: “I thought we deserved at least a draw if not a win. We’re 30 places below that team and that didn’t show tonight.

"We’re extremely proud – we’re a club and side that’s on the up.

“We’ve worked hard all year and a sad end, but you know what, we’re really proud of the boys.”