Kirkham & Wesham 2-1 Lowestoft T

Teenage substitute Matt Walwyn etched himself into Kirkham & Wesham folklore with a late brace to beat Lowestoft Town in the FA Vase final at Wembley.

Suffolk side Lowestoft had looked set for their first Vase triumph thanks to Phil Thompson's early own goal.

But 17-year-old Walwyn stepped off the bench and looked set to force the game into extra time when he converted Sean Paterson's ball with six minutes left.

And he sealed the victory from close range deep into stoppage time.

North West Counties League Division Two side Kirkham, who will change their name to AFC Fylde this summer, got off to the worst possible start when Thompson's looping header flew over goalkeeper Pete Summerfield in the 10th minute.

"It was absolutely brilliant. There isn't a better feeling. It's unbelievable"
Kirkham striker Matt Walwyn

But the Lancashire side, in their first-ever campaign in the Vase, dominated the rest of the first half, with Mark Wane wasting a good chance and Paterson seeing his brilliant volley hit the crossbar and bounce on the line.

After the break, Kirkham continued to dominate although Bradley Hough had a chance to seal the tie for Eastern Counties Premier Division side Lowestoft, but fired over.

Paterson, Wane and Paul Eastwood all missed chances in a desperate goalmouth scramble and it looked likely to be Lowestoft's day.

However, in the 79th minute, manager Mick Fuller brought on Walwyn, who had scored the goal that sealed their place at Wembley, and the decision changed the game.

Walwyn levelled five minutes later after controlling Paterson's ball and slamming the ball past Andy Reynolds.

And the A-level student sealed the Vase for the 10th-tier side when Paterson unselfishly set him up, and he could not miss.

Walwyn, son of former Blackpool striker Keith, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It was absolutely brilliant.

"There isn't a better feeling. It's unbelievable. We'll be taking the trophy back to Wesham and that's the main thing."

Kirkham & Wesham: Summerfield, Jackson (Walwyn 79), Keefe (Allen 55), Thompson, Shaw, Eastwood, Clark, Blackwell, Wane, Paterson (Sheppard 90), Smith.
Subs not used: Moffatt, Abbott.

Booked: Smith.

Goals: Walwyn 84, 90.

Lowestoft Town: Reynolds, Poppy, Potter, Woodrow, Saunders, Plaskett (McGee 79), Godbold, Darren Cockrill (Dale Cockrill 46), Stock, Hough, King (Hunn 55).
Subs not used: McKenna, Rix.

Booked: Woodrow.

Goal: Thompson og 10.

Att: 19,537

Ref: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Action photographs from BBC Suffolk
Lowestoft fans photo gallery from BBC Suffolk
Your say - 606 Non League
FA: The FA Vase
Kirkham & Wesham
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