SPA ATHLETIC 1 BOROUGHBRIDGE 2
Although it was 15 months behind schedule the Harrogate FA Charity Cup Final proved to be a close affair with Bridge just shading their Harrogate League opponents. Spa were certainly the more lively of the two sides in the opening stages with Bridge second best in all departments. Alastair Hogg was soon in action saving comfortably from Tom Hesketh but was beaten on 22 minutes when a poor Mark Tyson clearance was played back into the box for Jamie Land to fire home. Buoyed by their success Spa continued to push forward only to be punished by a quick Bridge break which resulted in Barry Galton pushing a left wing cross into the path of Marcus Philpott who volleyed home the equaliser. Spa still tended to hold the upper hand but some harsh words from the Manager Daz Ekin at the break certainly had some effect in the second half as Bridge were now pressing the ball more and looked like a side playing in a Cup Final. On 67 minutes a long clearance from Hogg was helped on by Martin Hutchinson to Uffindall who slipped a short pass to Philpott and he drilled home his second. Spa’s response was thwarted by pivotal performances from Steve Tovey and Hogg leaving Manager Ekin hoping the victory will galvanise Bridge for a tough second half of the season. Sponsor and Match adjudicator John Ward presented the two keepers, Alastair Hogg and Barry Galton with the MOM awards.