Orphanage Cup final 2015

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council 2 Blackburn Teachers 0

BLACKBURN with Darwen Borough Council finally got their hands on the old trophy with a hard-fought victory over six-time winners Blackburn Teachers.

The 2013 runners-up and the competition’s nearly men in recent seasons ended their long wait thanks to a goal in each half from the McKay brothers, Jack and Mark.

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Jack, named man of the match by former Blackburn Rovers player Damian Johnson, had an outstanding game and opened the scoring with a well struck effort late in the first half.

Mark, a half time substitute, added an extra cutting edge to the Council’s attack and could have scored a quick-fire hat-trick, instead he had to just settle for the one.

It was the killer blow in what was a ‘proper’ cup final after the competition, first played for in 1951, had seen a couple of one-sided contests in recent years due to S7 Soccer Academy’s utter dominance.

It was the Council who ended S7’s hopes of a record equally fourth successive win after beating them in the semi finals and avenging that cup final defeat of 2013.

But the Teachers have an excellent recent record in the competition and they were looking to win it for the fourth time in 10 years.

Jack McKay was soon in to the action, dancing down the flank and crossing for Kevin Brown who headed wide.

The Council, buoyed by that S7 victory, were looking dangerous and Stuart Poetker was forced in to a good save to deny Ralph Mason while Steve Tabiner saw his effort palmed away by the keeper.

But the Teachers were a threat and Andy Haworth’s well struck effort skimmed a Council defender and deflected just over the bar.

The Council finally opened the scoring with Jack McKay involved in the build up and execution. Ric Thornhill found him in the centre circle and McKay threaded a through ball to Aaron Ripley who cut back inside and squared to McKay who beat Poetker with a well struck effort.

The second half saw a more determined Teachers who upped the tempo in search of an equaliser.

John Turner curled a free kick just wide before an outstanding block by Ric Thornhill denied Ash Brierley a certain goal following a powerful run by Ben Pickup.

Turner then saw his back post header cleared off the line.

They were chances the Teachers needed to convert as the Council were always a threat - more so with Mark McKay now leading the attack.

Poetker pulled off a fine save to deny Brown then was relieved to see Mark McKay’s effort rebound off a post.

McKay then saw his diving header saved by Poetker but it was third time lucky for sub McKay. Brother Jack won a header in the middle of the park and Brown flicked on in to the path of Mark McKay who beat Poetker with an angled drive.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of the Teachers who had given their all to get back in the contest.

For the Council, who ended with 10 men after Lucian Barton was sent off, the long wait to add their name to the winners list was finally over.