Shortwood 1

Taverners 3

John Hannis Memorial Trophy

By Jim Cunneen

Taverners retained the John Hannis Trophy at Meadowbank on Saturday after an entertaining encounter.

It had all started so brightly for Shortwood and after only 8 minutes Jamie Walker crossed Paul Holmes flicked the ball back to Luke Soule and his curling shot from 20 yards smacked the post and rebounded away.

Walker then hit a drive inches over before Taverners took the lead after 18 minutes.

A low cross in found Andy Taylor and he escaped his marker before shooting home from 8 yards.

Taverners doubled their lead after 36 minutes as Josh Hitchins had far too much time to control and shoot home from just inside the area.

Wood made changes at half-time and an early Parry corner saw Nowell test keeper Bakewell and Mathews made a difference down the left flank.

Walker shot straight at Bakewell before Wood reduced the arrears after 61 minutes. Finn Blythe made a strong run and shot and Bakewell parried his effort leaving Soule with a simple finish. Markey made a smart save for Shortwood and a Mathews cross went over the helpless Bakewell, but Walker hit the ball over from close range.

The killer third goal came after 64 minutes. Wood were caught napping and Cook had acres of space to gather the ball and shoot past Markey. The ball hit the post but there was no escape as Blunt stroked home the rebound.

SHORTWOOD: Lewis Markey, Josh Kerr, Tom Hoskins, Dan Parry, Jamie Walker, Ben Langworthy, Troy Budd, Finn Byrnes, Lee Bowles, Luke Soule, Paul Holmes, Finn Blythe, Levi Mathews, Jacob Nowell, Tom Leonard

Taverners: Kyle Bakewell, Josh Taylor, Luke Bedwell, Ryan Woodman, Joe Wilkins, Andy Taylor, Josh Blunt, Sam Handy, Lewis Cook, Josh Hitchins, Sean Poole