Keswick under-16s retained the Tommy Hall Trophy with a convincing victory over Langwathby at the Penrith AFC stadium.
After suffering three defeats in the Penrith and District Junior Football League to the newly-crowned champions Keswick went in to the game very much underdogs.
But their game plan, attitude, fitness and desire won through against a shellshocked Langwathby side.
With a full 16 man squad at their disposal Keswick started well and had two great chances through Matty Stephenson both after great work from Oscar Pickering.
At the other end dogged but organised defending and then a smart save at his near post from Charlie Thomson kept Langwathby at bay.
Keswick took the lead just before the planned drinks break where a through ball from Matthew Jackson found Stephenson who calmly placed the ball over the Langwathby keeper.
Just before half-time Keswick doubled the lead when a scramble in the box saw an instinctive finish from Reece Sowerby.
Keswick came out after the break knowing the next goal was important and not long after a third goal arrived when Freddie Hilton’s in-swinging corner went directly into the goal.
Not long after Keswick found themselves down to 10 men as a player was sent to the sin bin. Langwathby pushed to get on the score sheet but Keswick defended deep, dug in and overcame an intense aerial bombardment with Thomson forced to make another good save.
The sin binned player returned to the pitch but minutes later received his marching orders after a foul so Keswick went into the last 25 minutes a man down.
Defender Will Ratcliffe was the casualty of a nasty tackle which did not help Keswick’s cause in defence but Sowerby and Robbie Frampton filled in admirably.
Keswick also utilised their five fresh substitutes and two of them combined to get the fourth goal when Ashton Hetherington attacked at pace down the left and his cross was met by Daniel Keane at the back post.
Not long after Keswick scored their fifth with an across the keeper shot from Stephenson which sparked wild celebrations on the bench, in the stands and on the pitch.
Keswick continued to work hard and vital work was needed from three other fresh substitutes in James Egerton, Oliver Smith and Jacob Black.
All Keswick players can be proud of their performances with Jack Gaskell, Charlie White and Toby Robinson, whose skill brought great praise from a 250 plus strong crowd.
But the stand out player was Hetherington whose natural strength and pace was a perfect foil for an under pressure Keswick when they broke out of their own half.
