Last updated at 17:09, Thursday, 24 May 2012

THE future looks bright for Askam United, whose under-18s football team have been crowned Westmorland and Furness League champions.

TROPHY WINNERS: Askam United Under-18s with the Westmorland and Furness League trophy. They are (back, from left): Tom Milligan, Scott Steeley, Steven Wilton, Andrew Green, Matthew Priestley, Connor Rawlings, Jake Brown, John Paul Stanway, Connor Atkinson, Callum Pether, Chris Haughton, Harry Brown. Middle: Robbie Braithwaite (assistant manager), Colin Rayner (manager) and Danny Rose. Front: Brett Usher, Olly McGuire, Jake Woods, Josh Rayner, Matthew France, Jonathon France, Kieran Braithwaite. Missing from picture: Patrick Allington PICTURE SUBMITTED BY ROBBIE BRAITHWAITE

Manager Colin Rayner and his talented young side finished the season top of the table, four points clear of nearest rivals Milnthorpe Corinthians, with third-placed GSK Ulverston Rangers a further point adrift.

It is the second time in three years that Askam have won the under-18s league title.

This time round they did it with a record of 12 wins, one draw and three defeats from their 16 games played.

Askam finished the campaign with five victories in a row, including crucial triumphs in their final two matches, both at home, against Kendal County (4-1) and Ibis United (3-0).

In beating a strong County side resoundingly, the Duddon Road outfit turned in arguably their best performance of the season, with Matthew France bagging a hat-trick.

They followed that up with another win by a three-goal margin against Kendal-based Ibis United in their final game of the 2011/12 campaign.

The team’s assistant manager Robbie Braithwaite, who along with boss Rayner was helped by Frank McGuire and Mike Brown, said: “The squad has a number of players who are only 16 and 17 and have shown great maturity in winning the league.

“So young is the squad that we only loose three players next season – Jake Woods, Scott Steeley and Matthew France – because of their age.”

First published at 13:11, Thursday, 24 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk