March 2011

The midfielder’s cool, crisp right foot finish against Huddersfield Town earned 41 per cent of fans’ votes in the goal of the last goal of the round vote of the season.

Bees winger Sam Saunders narrowly missed out in the closest vote in Ultimate Finish history, polling 39 per cent of votes.

Lifelong Carlisle United fan Graeme Jolly from Whitehaven was picked at random to win an iPod nano after voting for Tom.

Tom has become the first Carlisle United player this season to scoop the award, with teammates Jason Price (now at Hereford United) and Ben Marshall both being shortlisted in earlier rounds.

After hearing he’d beaten Sam to the award, Tom said: “I’m really chuffed to win as it’s fair to say I don’t get too many goals!

“It’s something I’ve been working on all season in training with Kav and with his goal scoring record from midfield, I couldn’t pick a better person to learn from.

“That home game against Huddersfield was brilliant to play in and the whole team performance was excellent. It’s a great competition and to get the chance to play at Wembley again is a dream come true.”

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy’s sponsorship manager Teresa Hardwick said: “We are not sure if this is an omen for the final itself, but it is a nice accolade for Tom to enjoy.

“The interest in this particular Ultimate Finish was as intense as we can remember, so it all bodes well for the final itself, where we are sure both sets of fans will be in good voice!”

After the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final, all fans will then have the opportunity to vote for the ‘Ultimate Finish of the Season.’

The winning goalscorer will be presented with a “Johnstone’s Paint Ultimate Finish of the Season Award” and one lucky entrant will win a fantastic Sony Playstation 3 console with latest Fifa game.

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