ROSS Townsend played a part in all three goals as Spectrum defeated a youthful Old Town side 3-0 in the George Thomas Cup final.

The midfielder provided two assists and scored direct from a corner to help Spectrum put on an emphatic second-half show at the Webb’s Wood Stadium.

Old Town had the lion’s share of the play in the first period and they threatened first when Shaun James’ volley was comfortably saved by Mark Deverall.

James Williams might have given Spectrum the lead after 17 minutes when he roasted James Lee for pace down the left, but his angled drive was repelled by Josh Witts.

Moments later Dan Stephens crossed for Andy Huggins, but again the flying Witts was equal to it.

At the other end player-manager Bryan Watson barged over James on the left corner of the box on 28 minutes, and Phil Jones’ curling free kick smacked against the underside of the crossbar.

Seconds later Watson’s weak back-header was directed goalwards by James, but much to the centre-back’s relief, the ball dropped just over.

With the second half barely kicked off, Townsend saw his top corner-bound free kick acrobatically turned over by Witts.

James was again denied by Deverall after 52 minutes but that was all that Old Town had to offer going forward in the second half.

Spectrum poured forward at the other end and after skipper Andy Marriott had somehow pulled a sliding effort wide of the left upright, Watson opened the scoring.

Townsend’s corner was not properly cleared and the ball fell to Watson some 10 yards out, the player-manager drilling emphatically into the bottom left corner.

The lead was doubled with a quarter of an hour to play, as Townsend whipped in a corner that flew over several players at the near post and dropped into the net.

Carl O’Regan spurned the chance to add a third before Townsend floated in a measured cross for unmarked sub Murat Satici, and he headed easily past Witts.

Old Town’s afternoon went from bad to worse as Lee was stretchered off late on, and at the final whistle Spectrum were comfortable winners.

  • BRYAN Watson revealed that some well-chosen words at half time inspired Spectrum to their 3-0 George Thomas Cup final victory over Old Town.

The scores were level at 0-0 at the interval with Old Town very much in the ascendancy, but after the resumption Spectrum were a much-improved side and goals from player-manager Watson, Ross Townsend and Murat Satici sealed the win at the Webb’s Wood Stadium.

But Watson admitted what ultimately proved a comfortable win had not always seemed so likely.

“They have got some good young forwards and in the first half they taught us a bit of a lesson with their movement and their pace,” he said.

“At half time we said we hadn’t played well or played our own game, but we hadn’t conceded, and we wanted to turn the screw in the second half, which we did.

“We came out and we took charge and got the first goal. There was good pressure from the corner and the ball fell to me in the box and I buried it.

“From there, there was only one team in it, we pushed on and played some great stuff, scored three excellent goals and were well-worth our win.

“I’m so proud of the boys because they listened to what we talked about at half time, and came out and they did it. The occasion got to us first half, but second half we showed what we could do.”

Watson also paid tribute to midfielder Ross Townsend, who set up two of the goals in addition to netting direct from a corner himself.

“Ross was man of the match without a doubt,” added Watson.

“He bossed the midfield for us and ran the show in the middle, in the second half especially. He started getting stuck in, won the ball and used it ever so well.”

Old Town boss Paul Gentleman was disappointed his team had missed several presentable chances in the opening 45 minutes, saying this may have cost his troops a result.

“First half was great and we had a couple of really good chances, and if we’d put those away then maybe the second half would have been a bit different,” he said.

“We got a couple of injuries so the confidence went a little bit there, we lost Tom Head at centre-back and he’s a big player for us and has been all season.

“As soon as he went, it knocked us and we lost it a little bit.

“But never mind, we’ll try again next year.”