OVERTHORPE lifted the Wheatley Cup for the sixth time after scoring a goal in each half against a battling Heckmondwike Town in the final staged at Ossett Town last Thursday.
In the clash of the West Riding County Amateur Clubs it was Overthorpe, of the Premier Division, who had too much firepower up front to outgun their first division rivals with Andy Gooding scoring both goals after breaks from midfield.
Heckmondwike were not helped when their influential captain Des Macorrison was sent off for a second yellow card, with 15 minutes remaining, when the score was still at 1-0, especially as Town were more threatening after the break after a lack lustre first half when they showed Overthorpe too much respect and barely had a shot on goal.
Initially neither side looked to be that interested in scoring and appeared more concerned about not making the first mistake. However, it was Overthorpe who settled into the game quicker. Rob Hiscox tested Town goalkeeper Andrew Reilley with a thunderous shot but he was up to it and got his body behind the ball.
Hiscox turned provider for the lively David Hall but his header shaved the crossbar.
The breakthrough came after 24 minutes Hiscox lifting the ball into the path of Gooding who met it firmly, driving it into the back of the net.
Town's best first half chance came from Andrew Pickles who got onto the end of an excellent free kick but his effort was just wide.
Overthorpe should have doubled their lead just before half-time when Jonathan Smith launched a shot which appeared to be heading for the top corner but Reilley got a hand to the ball and turned it to safety.
Heckmondwike came out for the second half, full of purpose. Macorrison found his way into the area to get onto the end of a Rob Boardman cross but Steven Holt, the Overthorpe goalkeeper, was alert to the danger and saved.
Heckmondwike maintained the pressure and Andrew Pickles showed some excellent skills and was shaping to shoot when Paul Denver made a well timed tackle to halt the threat.
Chris Rock worked tirelessly but without reward for Heckmondwike making good ground from deep positions.
As time ticked away the tackles started to fly in from both sides and many went unpunished, so it was a surprise when Macorrison was booked and subsequently dismissed for a tackle that was no worse than others by his team mates and opponents.
The red card frustrated his team mates and despite several substitutions they could not channel it into fluent play.
Instead Overthorpe relished the extra space created and really stepped up the tempo of the game stretching Heckmondwike's defensive resources with Michael Hayley, Smith and Hiscox to the fore as they tried to sneak round the back in search of a second goal to kill the game off.
It didn't look as if it would materialise until Ian Booth, on as a substitute for Overthorpe, managed to squeeze in a cross to Gooding chasing in from midfield to bury it into the bottom corner of the net beyond a diving Reilley.
The goal sealed the cup for Overthorpe but there followed a tense final few minutes as Heckmondwike tried to at least get a consolation.
The game was far from a classic cup final but Overthorpe deserved their win and received the trophy from Bob Secker, President of the Heavy Woollen FA.
Heckmondwike: Reilley, Rock, Williams, Fox, Mansell, Boardman, Macorrison, Fletcher, Gleghorn, Pickles, Cowling. Subs: N Wilson, M Wilson, Pollard, Calvert.
Overthorpe: Holt, Smith, Legood, Minto, Denver, Kilkenny, Gooding, Hall, Hiscox, Smith, Hayley. Subs: Khan, Dolan, Sykes, Booth, Hardy.
Referee: S Holroyd. Assistants: C Whitaker, I Johnston. Fourth Official: J Collinson.