Throgmorton Champions Cup Final

Lapford AFC   1 - 0   The Windmill

Played at Coach Road, Newton Abbot 07/08/2021

Lapford AFC just about deserved to come out on top against a competitive Windmill outfit who opened up on the front foot, creating two good chances in the early stages. First, in the 10^th minute, Tommy Phillips free kick from the right found Sam Doyle whose header was scrambled clear by the Lapford defence. Two minutes later a cross from Doyle found Phillips whose shot went just wide of the far post.

Windmill certainly appeared to be getting on top in these early stages, but they were almost caught out in the 15^th minute when Lapford’s Dom Stapleton bustled his way up the right, cut inside, and fired a left foot shot against the near post.

In the 19^th minute Lapford’s pacey forward, Harry Leach, managed to break through the Windmiil defence only to be denied by a great recovery tackle from Ryan Foster. A goal then might have made all the difference but both defences were on top throughout the first half with neither keeper brought into meaningful action until the 43^rd minute when a through ball found Ashley Walker, whose shot from just outside the box was well saved by the Lapford stopper, Chris Burrow.

Half time arrived with no breakthrough, the score remaining at nil – nil.

Lapford took the initiative after the break and should have gone ahead in the 50^th minute when Leach was found unmarked just inside the box with only Windmill custodian Steve France to beat. Sadly, he sliced his shot woefully wide.

In the 53^rd minute he was able to make amends though. A cross from the left was blasted goalward by Ben Tucker and deflected for corner which the Windmill defence failed to clear, Stapleton crossing to the far post where Leach was waiting to fire into the roof of the net from close range. 1 – 0 to Lapford and despite both sets of forwards working hard and a number of substitutions the defences largely remained on top.

The Phillips brothers at the back for Lapford mopped up everything that the Windmill could throw at them and by the 63^rd minute Windmill had made all their changes. Despite that they were unable to find a way through as Lapford racked up with five at the back for the remainder of the half.

The Windmill lads kept to their game plan, trying to pass their way through the midfield, but the final ball just wouldn’t come and they were reduced to shots from distance, none of which gave Burrow too much trouble and so Lapford ran out worthy winners of the Throgmorton Challenge Cup.

Man of the Match – Alex Phillips (Lapford) 

watch the game here