Callum Brierley grabbed a double as Linthwaite B carried off the RCD League Trophy at Under 16 level.

His goals provided a 2-1 win over Battyeford and inspired hopes that Linthwaite can make it a double-winning campaign.

Third Division Battyeford kicked off the final looking every bit a division above a Linthwaite side who looked overwhelmed.

Yet, apart from an Elliott Jagger effort that flew just wide of the left upright, Battyeford struggled to threaten the Linthwaite goal.

And their failure to make the best of their dominance was to cost them in the end as Linthwaite slowly, but surely, began to make headway.

Matthew Hemmingway produced Linthwaite’s first chance when a deflected Battyeford pass opened a route through the middle, but keeper Fergus Sullivan was quick to narrow the angle and made a terrific one-handed save.

And Sullivan came to Battyeford’s rescue again moments later when Joel Sartain’s cross from the left gave Hemmingway the chance to volley from two yards and, although the keeper could only block the shot, a defender cleared the danger.

With half time approaching, the game was flowing freely from end to end but, with both defences looking very solid, goal opportunities were not easy to find.

The deadlock was finally broken when a Dominic Moorhouse pass found Brierley whose powerful shot, via a slight deflection, found the bottom corner to give Linthwaite the lead. (0-1)

Battyeford were almost back on level terms within a minute when the Linthwaite defence were caught square, allowing Ahmed Elmustafa to break unchallenged, but the striker’s first touch let him down and the chance was gone.

Another Battyeford chance arrived soon after the re-start when Harry Barnes met a corner 10 yards from goal and keeper Clayton Phillips was pleased to see his snatched volley fly inches over the bar.

Linthwaite’s lead always looked fragile as Elmustafa, Pride Chitakunye and Chandler Wharby put Stephen Wilkinson, Martin Poole and James Ward under severe pressure, but the Colne Valley side’s supporters breathed a large sigh of relief when Brierley turned a Danny Garton right-wing cross into the Battyeford net to double Linthwaite’s advantage.

With 25 minutes remaining, the Mirfield side pressed higher up the field and the tactic finally paid off when the tricky Elmustafa carved out enough space to drive a shot into the roof of the net. (1-2)

Ward, Moorhouse and Sartain covered every blade of grass in their efforts to relieve pressure on the Linthwaite goal as Battyeford went in search of an equaliser, and it took keeper Phillips to pull off the save of the game to deny Elmustafa from four yards with almost the final kick of the game.

Battyeford will probably feel they might have got more, but it was Linthwaite’s day and they can now concentrate on winning a double.