Bristol Manor Farm beat Knaresborough Town to win Toolstation Cup Final

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Words and pictures by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)

Victorious Bristol Manor Farm manager Lee Lashenko hopes their Toolstation Cup Final victory in Yorkshire will ensure his side has a mentality for success when they start their Western League season.
An early George Bimson goal was all they needed to beat NCEL League Cup winners Knaresborough Town 1-0 in the inaugural final at Staveley Miners Welfare.
The match was organised by Toolstation, who sponsor both the NCEL and Western League, with the aim of raising funds for the Royal National Lifeboats Institution and Asthma UK.
Bristol finished second in the Western League Premier Division – narrowly missing out on promotion to step four and Lashenko hopes to go one better in 2015.
“I’d like to say that we brought a young team here today and that winning is a good habit for them to have, but that it was also good to step into the unknown,” he told Non League Yorkshire.
“In our area we could arrange lots of pre-season friendlies, but probably know too much about the opposition.
“This was a complete mystery for us to come here. It showed that these players have the right mindset to do well over the course of the season.
“I have learnt a lot today and it was a very worthwhile exercise because how professionally it was run by the leagues as well.
“The facilities are great here (at Staveley) so we’re ‘over the moon’ at winning the game, but it was a good experience.
“I felt we looked more threatening, but possession-wise it was probably equal. We had the more clear cut chances, but that’s not taking anything away from the opposition who were a well-drilled and well-ran team.
“That’s why it made it a worthwhile exercise.”

Watched on by World Cup referee Howard Webb, Brian Davey’s Knaresborough were quick out of the blocks in the opening exchanges with their new striker Hiliard Serrao, a recent signing from Glasshoughton, going close from inside the penalty area.
Bristol then enjoyed a good spell of pressure which ended with the only goal of the game. Knaresborough failed to clear their lines from a Bristol and the ball found left-back Bill Bond outside the box. Bond crossed from the left and the ball swept into the six-yard and Brimson reacted the quickest and headed home from close range.
Venezuelan forward Serrao wasted a great opportunity for Knaresborough after bursting through before the NCEL Division One side lost talismanic striker Colin Heath, the former Manchester United striker, to injury.
While Knaresborough did lose their main goal, Davey’s men started the second half really strongly. Seb Carole, who played for Leeds United in the Football League, and George Eustance caused problems for Bristol down the wings.
Knaresborough got into some good areas, but never really properly tested Bristol goalkeeper Ashley Clarke.

Knaresborough’s new goalkeeper Paul Hagreen then stole the show for his side. Hagreen, one of the best young stoppers in Yorkshire, made a string of top saves throughout the second half.
He pushed Will Hailstone and Harley Purcell’s strikes away from danger while making a number of other superb stops to ensure Knaresborough’s hopes of winning the cup remained alive until the death.
Even as time eventually ran out, Knaresborough were really going all out to take the final to a penalty shootout by sending Hagreen up to help attack a corner in a bid to force an equaliser.
After a good fist of attempting to score, Premier League referee Robert Madley blew for full-time and it was Bristol captain Jordan Metters who lifted the Toolstation trophy.
But, Knaresborough manager Davey was satisfied.
“It was a very good workout,” he said.
“We knew it would be a tough game because they’re in their Premier Division, but we weren’t frightened of that.
“We learnt today after the first half that they were in front, not because they were better team, but because of we hadn’t played at all.
“We looked like a different team in the second half and it was great for the fitness.
“I certainly thought we looked the better side and created the better chances.
“Both teams were on par and if we had scored the first goal it could have been different.
“At this time of the season it is about getting your squad right and we were still giving games today to people who might not feature in our first two or three games.”
Bristol Manor Farm: Clarke, Wiltshire, Bond, Dunne, Loader, Purnell, Metters (captain), Mills, Brimson, Hailstone, Hodgeson. Subs: Parsons, Rees, Durrant, Greaves.
Knaresborough Town: Hagreen, Wilson, C Radcliffe, N Radcliffe, Duerden (captain), Gray, Carole, Bradley, Heath, Serrao, Eustance. Subs: Littlefair, Donoghue, Whitehead,Cook, Clayton.
Referee: R Madley. Assistants: R Henger, G Thomas. Fourth Official: R Woodman
Attendance: 150
Man of the match: Paul Hagreen (Knaresborough Town)