Hesketh 'thrilled' as young chargers secure LFA Shield trophy

After a cagey first half, 18-year-old Will Sim fired home a left footed shot on 50 minutes to break the deadlock.

It was doubled eight minutes later when Spencer Lucas buried a header from a sumptuous Joe Hooper cross from the left and Lucas added the cherry on top in injury time to see off the Manchester League outfit.

This is Fulwood’s centenary year with the club’s reserve side also looking for silverware this Thursday when they face Hesketh Bank Reserves in the final of the Stewart Rowe Memorial Cup.

And Hesketh said he was proud as punch as Fulwood celebrated their third LFA Shield title in seven years.

“We’re all thrilled to bits,” said Hesketh.

“Especially in our centenary year too. We expected a tough physical game and that’s what we got. We had a few half chances and they did to the end of the first half that put us on our guard.

“But when we got that first goal I didn’t think the result was in any doubt. Joe Hooper’s put in an amazing cross for our second goal and then Spencer got the third from a rebound late on.

“It’s a fantastic achievement for our lads – we have to rebuild every year and we had four or five new players this season who are cutting their teeth at what is a very good level.

"It takes time to get used to the level and the standard and they have all done really well.”

A run of four defeats in the league in October scuppered Fulwood’s league title hopes – so who does Hesketh think will win the title this Saturday?

“It’s a hard one to call, it really is,” he said.

“I think CMB will win, they are very strong at home.

"But Rossendale will be tough for Thornton – we went there a few a weeks ago and lost 3-1 so it’s a tough final fixture for Thornton and there might be an upset.”