Hare and Hounds beat Polo in the Founder Cup Final

Apr 30 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

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THIS Cup Final was the proverbial ‘game of two halves’ with two totally different 45 minute periods.

After an early clash between Steve Edwards and Mark Nickson in the Hare & Hounds goal, an early free kick at the other end saw a free kick rebound off the defensive wall and John Carroll drove home from 18 yards to give Hare & Hounds the lead after 3 minutes.

For the ensuing 20 minutes John Carroll was involved in almost all of Hare & Hounds creative play and he was involved as Mark King slotted home the second at the near post in the 18th minute.

Hare & Hounds were now firmly in control with Dale Sealey excellent at the back and the aforementioned John Carroll and Ryan Wallace bossing the midfield.

A rare defensive lapse in the 33rd minute saw Steve Edwards thump a header home from a corner and Polo were back in the match at 2-1.

The half closed with a chance at both ends as a superb effort from Ryan Wallace was thwarted by a great save from Ged Gandy and Steve Edwards, through one-on-one, saw Mark Nickson pull off an excellent save to preserve Hare & Hounds lead at the break.

The second half saw Polo make a double substitution as Michael Cole and Danny McQuire came on, with McQuire in particular making a big impact.

After just 2 minutes of the second half, Polo were level as the excellent Steve Brogan headed home from a corner – and a minute later they were ahead after a lightning quick break from Steve Dee and a fantastic finish into the bottom corner.

Now it was Polo controlling the game and most of the chances were now in the Hare & Hounds area, and after 53 minutes Andy Mawdslay made it 4-2 with another fine finish into the bottom corner.

A tricky moment in the 58th minute saw a clash between Mike Moores and Mark Nickson on the edge of the box, but common sense prevailed with the Hare & Hounds keeper receiving a booking.

Ryan Wallace almost put Hare & Hounds back in the game in the 65th minute but his free kick hit the post, while at the other end a great save from Nickson denied Moores for Polo.

The final 20 minutes of the game was played out without any real spark or passion as Polo went through the motions, while fully deserving of the win. Man of the Match in an entertaining game on the whole was Polo’s Steve Brogan who didn’t put a foot wrong throughout the game.

These two teams will do it all again next week in a League decider and again a week later in the Tommy Rogers Trophy.