LINTHWAITE Under 16s rounded off a brilliant year by adding the RCD League Cup to the league title which they clinched just a couple of weeks ago.

Historically, the Colne Valley club have occupied the lower reaches of the league but recent years has brought an upturn in fortunes with many of the club’s teams now pushing for honours, with the Under 16s leading the way.

Heavy rain had been falling for most of the day but the Syngenta pitches were in excellent condition as the game got under way.

Wyke, who are not used to losing, have conceded only nine goals on their way to an unbeaten Second Division title but they were stunned as early as the sixth minute when Mark McSherry gave the League champions a 1-0 lead.

And when McSherry doubled Linthwaite’s lead 10 minutes later, Wyke were clearly going to have to step up a gear to get anything from the game as Iwan Hanley-Heeley and Lee Johnson dominated midfield.

The turn around brought better fortunes for Wyke, and their supporters’ hopes were raised when good work from Jamie Taylor and Sanchez Hefferman produced the opening for James Panter to pull one back just after the re-start.

Then, when Elliot Chambers restored Linthwaite’s two-goal cushion in the 65th minute to make it 3-1, the Colne Valley side seemed to be heading towards victory. But Wyke were not finished and the game was left on a knife edge when Panter grabbed his second of the game 10 minutes from time.

The goal brought a period of dominance for Wyke and defenders Thomas Hampshire and Sam Bates had their work cut out to prevent a Wyke equaliser, but the Wanderers chase for the vital goal left them exposed at the back and Jack Garrety made full use of the space to lay on a pass for Josh Shields who netted Linthwaite’s fourth to secure victory and the double for the jubilant side.