FOOTBALL — Welfare League Holds RidgeDoc Cup Final

GREENOCK and District Welfare League hosted the RidgeDoc Cup final, contested by Blackthorn Rovers FC and Chaplins FC.

The teams went into the final with contrasting form — Chaplins had been enduring a slump but Blackthorn had not lost a game or conceded a goal in this competition or the league.

Chaplins started brighter but never really troubled the Blackthorn keeper and Blackthorn soaked up the early pressure and took the lead though Glen Bradley who beat the Chaplins keeper at his near post.

Blackthorn thought they extended their lead when Aaron Cameron lobbed the keeper but the eagle-eyed linesman ruled that the ball went over the bar, hit the back of the net and rolled back out, Blackthorn didn’t need to wait long. A mis-hit clearance fell straight to Aaron Cameron who made no mistake to make it 2-0.

Aaron wasn’t finished in this half and he made it 3-0 before the break when the ball cannoned off Aaron and into the back of the net from a clearance. Soon after half-time Chaplins beat the keeper from a corner but Kev McDermid was on the line to clear the ball from the line.

Blackthorn made it 4-0 when Aaron put the ball across the keeper and found the back of the net. Aaron got his fourth goal and Blackthorn’s fifth when he slotted the ball into the bottom corner. The misery was completed for Chaplins when an own goal was scored to make it a 6-0 victory for Blackthorn.

Aaron Cameron receiving the Sponsor’s Man of the Match award from Mark Docherty of RidgeDoc Roofing while Scottish Welfare Football Association (SWFA) chairman Stevie Aitken looks on; and club captains Graeme Barnes and James Hunter with sponsor Mark Docherty and SWFA chairman Stevie Aitken

Greenock and District Welfare League thank Mark Docherty of RidgeDoc Roofing for his sponsorship, The Trophy Box for supplying silverware and staff at Chaplins for the after-match hospitality and presentation venue.