Keswick Football Club men’s team completed a stunning trophy treble as they beat Maryport Athletic in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to win the Whitehaven Cup.
Keswick went into last Saturday’s showpiece at Egremont’s Falcon Ground having already won the Cumberland County League Division I title, gained promotion to the Premier Division and lifted the Divisional Cup. It is their first season in the county league after they relocated from the Westmorland League.
They beat a number of Premier Division sides on their journey to the final on Saturday, when they took on a Maryport Athletic side who were also double winners having bagged the Premier Division championship and Benevolent Trophy.
Alfie West gave Keswick a first half lead but Maryport upped their lead after the interval, applying pressure which eventually paid off as they equalised with three minutes remaining.
Maryport then had a golden chance to secure victory in normal time as they were awarded a penalty kick but ballooned it over goalkeeper Max Smith’s crossbar.
Smith then produced heroics as the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and went straight to a penalty shootout, making saves before team-mate Ewan Clarke slotted home the winning kick, sparking jubilant celebrations.
Player-manager and captain John Philips, at the end of his first season in charge, was a proud man.
“It was absolutely fantastic. Every one of our players on the pitch should hold their heads up and be proud of themselves,” he told the Reminder.
“It was a very good test and showed what we will be going into next season. You can tell the difference in standards between the two leagues but the way we have played this season I think we’ll be fine in the league above.”
Of the highly successful season as a whole, Philips added: “The way the team has come together this year has been absolutely brilliant and to be honest I think it is one of Keswick’s best ever seasons on record.
“It has been a long season but a brilliant one!”
Philips thanked all of his squad, including Jamie Little, Lewis Cumber and Sam Reilly for the support they have given him; and sponsor the Twa Dogs Inn, which provided players with jackets. The team will celebrate their excellent efforts at a presentation night on June 22.
Keswick’s footballers even added a fourth trophy to their haul at the weekend as they beat a Keswick Rugby Club side in a friendly T20 cricket match which has become an annual event.
