The 60th anniversary celebrations of the Chesterfield Sunday League are well and truly underway.

The annual Hospital Shield game provided a fitting curtain-raiser to a special season as more than 120 spectators watched Espial and New Houghton battle it out at Staveley MW FC.

Traditionally played between the first division league champions and the winners of the Alma Cup, the game to open this campaign was played between the winners of the Chatsworth Cup, Espial, and Hutson Cup holders New Houghton.

Espial came through a difficult start to triumph 4-1 and became the first team to win their League, Chatsworth Cup and Hospital Shield in the same calendar year.

Espial players and supporters with the Hospital Shield

placeholder image — Espial players and supporters with the Hospital Shield

Espial also won the Third Division title last term and they started as strong favourites but Division Six champions New Houghton gave them a good test.

The underdogs started strongly and it came as no surprise when they struck first on 20 minutes when a 25-yard effort by Liam Childes was deflected beyond Brady Parker in the Espial goal.

New Houghton thought they had extended their lead on 39 minutes after Adam McTighe brought down Tom Bradley just outside the Espial penalty area.

From the resultant free kick Liam Childes headed the ball across goal for Henry Farnsworth to volley the ball home but his joy was short lived when he saw assistant referee Tom Wall’s flag raised for offside.

Action from the Hospital Shield final at Staveley MW FC

New Houghton squandered chances and they made to pay when Espial equalised with the last kick of the first half. Jordan Handley was brought down by Ethan Lotkowski and Kane Snell tucked away the resultant penalty.

It was a competitive game with plenty of robust but fair challenges and referee Mark Hilton kept good control throughout.

Espial looked stronger and fitter as the match went on and they took the lead on 55 minutes.

Good work by Mark Morely on the right wing ended with his shot rebounding off the crossbar and Snell was again on hand to prod the ball home.

Match referee Mark Hilton collects the match ball before the Hospital Shield final between Espial and New Hougthon

Espial continued to dictate and they put away another chance six minutes from time when, after further good work by Morely, a mini scramble in the six-yard area saw Billy Whitehead slot in for 3-1.

They saved the best until last though. In the last minute a defence-splitting pass by Snell allowed Whitehead the space and time to round the advancing keeper to put the game beyond doubt.

The magnificent Hospital Shield was presented to Espial captain Henry Farnsworth by Donna Bowman, Chesterfield Sunday Management Committee Member who is a Senior Bio Medical Scientist (Microbiology) with the NHS. The evening raised more than £700 for the Chesterfield Royal Hospital.