Mike Beech Memorial Trophy Final: Mynydd Isa end up resounding winners

NORTH EAST WALES LEAGUE – MIKE BEECH MEMORIAL TROPHY FINAL

FC Queen’s Park 1 (Lawrence)
Mynydd Isa 5 (Tudor, Manning, Wiles 2, Shorrock)

Mynydd Isa became the winners of the fourth NEWFL Mike Beech Trophy competition after an emphatic 5-1 victory over FC Queens Park at The Hollingsworth Group Stadium, Airbus on Sunday.

Isa blew the Park away with a dominant display in front of over 350 spectators.

The team in yellow knocked the ball around well on the big 3G surface and were the better of the two sides in the opening exchanges as the Park were looking to retain the trophy they won last season.

That good start was rewarded with the opening goal as Iwan Rogers swung a corner into the Park box for Lewis Tudor to hook the ball home.

The game settled down and Park started to threaten from corners and free kicks on the edge of the Mynydd Isa box.

Despite this, Isa were relatively comfortable and Harry Wilkes did not have much to do in goal.

The next goal would have a big say which way this battle would go and it went to the yellows. A Braden Lavin long throw bounced around the QP box before Man of the Match Nick Manning helped the ball past the stranded goalkeeper to double the Isa lead.

Just like London buses, the floodgates started to open and a superb passing move saw captain Sam Wainwright dance his way into the QP box. He took on his man before finding fellow strike partner Jay Wiles who made no mistakes from six yards out.

The Park were shell shocked. It got even better for Mynydd Isa on the stroke of half time. Another swift passing move saw Jack Aitken released into the box. He guided the ball across the goal for Dane Shorrock to tap in.

Half time: Mynydd Isa 4-0 FC Queen’s Park

A dream half time scoreline, but as ever you can never write off the Park.

However, any hope of a comeback was gone when a clearance landed at the feet of Wiles. He manoeuvred the ball onto his left foot and slammed the ball past the keeper into the far corner for number five.

The game was pretty comfortable from there on in and despite the Park having a decent amount of possession, they rarely threatened Wilkes in the Isa goal.

Having defended well throughout the game, the only disappointment from a Mynydd Isa perspective was the failure to keep a clean sheet. Substitute Liam Lawrence capitalised on a defensive error to grab a consolation goal.

Referee John Andrew Jones brought an end to proceedings to confirm Mynydd Isa FC as the 2023/2024 NEWFL Mike Beech Trophy winners. A first piece of silverware for the first team since James Hollyoak reformed the senior side in 2016.

Liam Evans’ side will look to carry on their 12-game winning run with a possible promotion and another cup final on the cards.

Saturday’s success followed the club’s second team lifting The Reserve Cup the previous weekend.

MIKE BEECH MEMORIAL TROPHY

The Mike Beech Memorial Trophy is played for every season in honour of the much-missed and much-loved former league secretary, who passed away in 2017 after a lifetime devoted to football.

ROLL OF HONOUR

2018-19
Winners – Flint Mountain; runners-up – Penyffordd Lions
2019-20
No winner – season cancelled early (Covid)
2020-21
Season completely cancelled (Covid)
2021-22
Winners – Connah’s Quay Town; runners-up – FC Queen’s Park
2022-23
Winners – FC Queen’s Park; runners-up – Greenfield
2023-24
Winners – Mynydd Isa; runners-up – FC Queen’s Park