THERE will be no football of any kind for the foreseeable future.

With the grassroots game following the professionals in a lockdown of the sport amid the coronavirus pandemic, Winsford United, Middlewich Town and Winsford Saxons have played their last games for a while.

For the latter, though, they went out in style by reaching the final of the Crewe and District Junior Shield.

A 3-1 victory over higher-ranked Crewe FC Reserves in the semi finals left Saxons manager Gary Lee Jamieson feeling proud.

“On this showing, everything we've done all season – the setbacks, the defeats in other cup competitions to higher-ranked teams, all those learning curves – came to fruition in this game.

“We were brave on the ball and strong and disciplined without the ball.

“But above all, we looked like we belonged at that level. This was by no means a lucky win.”

The victory looks even better when the fact Saxons missed a penalty and lost influential striker Kane Ode to injury in the first half is taken into account.

It was Joe Duckworth who dragged the spot kick wide before Ode was injured but his replacement, Stephen Snape, stole the show in the second half.

Having won the ball back high up the pitch, Snape curled a superb effort into the top corner to give Saxons the lead.

Another substitute doubled the lead as a sweeping move led to Duckworth laying the ball across the box for James Crowther to emphatically fire home.

Crewe hit back as the game reached the final stages as they reduced the deficit to one, but Saxons remained a threat on the counter attack.

Farrell Duncan – himself a former Crewe FC player – played an inch-perfect pass to Duckworth, who remained calm to finish left-footed and seal the win in the final minute.

“To win 3-1 against a very strong, good footballing side is showing how far we have come in such a short space of time,” Jamieson said.

“I'm proud of every lad who has put on a Saxons shirt for me this season, not just in this game.”

The Crewe and District Football League, North West Counties League and Cheshire Football League have now suspended fixtures until further notice.