Published at 19:44, Thursday, 24 April 2008

WORKINGTON Sunday League champions Portland have reached the final of the Sunday County Cup for the first time.

They beat Calder Lions 6-0 to set up a final with Gleneden at Gillford Park, Carlisle, on May 4.

Portland made the semi-finals four years ago when they were beaten by Gleneden who lost to Mirehouse in the final.

Though Portland were comfortable winners in the end, four of their goals came in the last 15 minutes.

They scored on 25 minutes when a free kick from Arthur Peers was headed home by Gary Hodgson.

There was some controversy over Portland’s second goal as Calder claimed Kevin Connolly was off-side when he broke clear just inside the opposition half. He went on to beat the keeper to double Portland’s lead.

The floodgates really opened in the closing stages as Connolly scored his second with a delightful finish and the best goal of the game came after a length-of-the-field move which ended with Hodgson netting from four yards.

The Calder goalkeeper was sent off for verbally abusing the linesman and Portland added two more goals. Connolly completed his hat-trick and Stephen Graham notched the sixth.

There were only two Workington Sunday League games at the weekend with William Hill making more progress in the division two. Trevor Holm (2), William Heaney (2) and Paul Gartland scored the goals against Royal Oak.

The only premier clash was a seven-goal thriller in which Red Lion just got the better of Bluebell.

Kenneth Bowes (2), Paul Cuthell and Stuart Irwin scored for the Aspatria side with Ross Sharpe, Graham Lamb and William Bowe responding for Bluebell.

In mid-week matches William Hill (Gary Anderson (3), Trevor Holm and Stephen Tunstall) beat The Well (Richard Ross) 5-1.

Curwen Arms, William Hill’s their main rivals for the title, also hit five (Stuart Gray (2), Jake McGovern, Stuart Bell and Daniel McAdam) to beat third-placed Grasslot Welfare (Mike Craig and Paul Carter) 5-2.

Letters Inn (Stuart Creighton and David Blackburn) drew 2-2 with Royal Oak (Sean Gartland and Mark Robertson).

And in division one Oval Centre (Ben McGlasson, Dale Hooper and Carl McCarten) beat Miners Arms Broughton Moor (Kyle Park ) 3-1.

Fixtures - Divisional Cup final: William Hill v Dearham.

Premier: Portland v Northside. Division two: Grasslot Welfare v Glasson Rangers.

Tuesday - Premier: Red Lion v Portland. Division two: Hall Park v William Hill.

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