Football Alliance Cup 2016 - 17: Final

Northwich Victoria      (1) 2
South Liverpool         (0) 1

(at Manchester Central)

Cup honours to Northwich Victoria, deserved reward for another fine, consistent season for the Vics, still a ‘young’ team amongst the higher echelons it must be remembered, although the margin of victory was but a narrow one.

South Liverpool put in another excellent performance against a team from the Championship, having eliminated holders Red Star Mossley, eventual league champions Liverpool St Helens and then Blyth Spartans en route to the final, but fell just short on the day, going down as late as the 85th minute to one of Northwich’s classic counter-attacks after having maintained parity for all but brief periods of Vics dominance.
Northwich took the advantage after 26 minutes and remained an ever-present threat even when allowing South Liverpool the opportunity to probe from midfield, defensive solidity underpinning their efforts although their one lapse allowed South to equalise in the 64th minute, setting up the last half hour nicely, during which both teams had chances to score before Vics applied the coup de grace.

In addition to a first major trophy, Northwich’s prize is a place in next season’s European Cup-Winners’ Cup, whilst South Liverpool, as Second Division champions, have at least the not insignificant consolation of promotion to the Championship.