South Wirral Cup

Halfway 5

Hope Farm 1

BOTH clubs were glad to get this rearranged cup-tie played but it was Halfway who strolled into the Quarter-Final stages.

Hope Farm, the Ellesmere Port visitors started brightly with wind advantage in the first-half.

Lee Mayers squandered an early chance but Halfway broke the deadlock when Lawrence Wulff crossed for Andy Shaw to score on the second attempt.

Halfway continued to create chances although they were not playing particularly well at this time but Shaw and Whitfield both had opportunities.

The second-half had just begun when Dave Whitfield beat the defence to a Brian Francis through-ball and Halfway had their second.

Hope Farm then replied with a well-worked goal to give Paul Rigby in goal no chance.

Andy Thompson scored with a 30 yard thunderbolt to put Halfway back in command.

Hope Farm pushed forward in a desperate attempt to save the game but this gave Whitfield and Shaw the room they needed and it was Whitfield who raced clear to score.

Liam Brannigan found himself in the opposing area on a number of occasions but it was Whitfield who turned the defender and strike home for a fine hat-trick.

It had been a better second-half display and Halfway came out as easy winners.

The defence had played their part with Tony Oates and John Yasitis performing well in difficult conditions.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.