Elland Road hosted the Leeds and District Senior Cup Final on 30 May 2023, between Beeston St Anthony’s and Middleton FC. A hard fought game was expected between the near neighbours and so it turned out to be.
Middleton, from the Yorkshire Amateur Premier league and holders of the trophy, were underdogs, playing against the West Yorkshire Premier league side, but the way they played you would not have thought it! Middleton created several chances but could not find the net, before a breakaway by Man of the Match Sam Akeroyd from midfield found left winger Joe Thornton with a superb pass who curled the ball into the top right hand corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance and Beeston a 1-0 half time lead.
Words must have been said in the Middleton dressing room at half time as they started the second half like a house on fire. Running ‘off the ball’ and wonderful passing movement created a bundle of chances, but firing over the bar and wide of the posts, they could not find the target against a resolute Beeston defence.
Then another breakaway out of the Beeston half saw the prolific scorer Jake Topp bursting down the right hand side beating the full back with a perfect cross to the far post found Lee Turner who thundered a great header into the Middleton net with the ‘keeper well beaten. Middleton worked until the end, but the trophy was destined for Beeston. A wonderful match and credit to both teams.
This post was written by John Adamson
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