Halifax West AFC are the new holders of the AMT Lawyers sponsored North West Championship trophy.

The new boys came through victories against Bury Town, South Manchester, Bolton United and Fishwick Rangers to be crowned the new champions.

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The players hold a moments silence before the game in memory of the father of a Halifax player who had passed away only days earlier.

In their four games they scored 15 goals and came from behind in two games to clinch the cup.
The tournament this year was held at Victoria Park, the home of Nelson Football Club.

 

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Captains with the cup before the game

In the final they came up against a resolute and determined Fishwick Rangers who had surprised everyone by reaching the final.
A hat-trick by Ahsan Farooq and two injury time goals by  Sameer Ahmed gave the Halifax team a  5-1 deserved win. It may have been flattering score line but Halifax deserved the cup after some great football.

 

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You need your share of luck to win any tournament and Halifax did have some here. But when questions were asked of their temperament they passed with flying colours.
This side can play some great football and if it means every player will touch the ball before a chance is created then so be it.

 

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It was no easy ride to the final for the side who had to come through testing games none more so than in the semi’s against holders Bolton United and South Manchester in the quarters. There were large periods in both those games where they looked second best but in the end the result matters.

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In the final a young Fishwick did well in the first half hour to quell the Halifax advance. It was only a matter of time until they scored.
Fishwick had a chance to equalise almost immediately but when they missed it the writing was on the wall.
Halifax began to look threatening on the break with Liam and Ahsan looking more and more ominous.

 

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The two injury time goals put a gloss on the result but Fishwick who were without their best finisher for the two last games were always chasing the game.
They performed a lot better than many had thought. The mix of youth and experience worked for the side but in the end Halifax were imply too strong.
Next year Halifax may find the going tougher but to come through a play-off and end up as champions is no mean feat.

 

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This was the first time a side has managed to do this since Coppice United in 2008 and they went on to dominate things for a few years.
Are we seeing the birth of a new tournament superpower?