Third time lucky!
IT took six penalties kicks and one in normal time, plus some magnificent goalkeeping from man of the match Ben Barnes before West Lancashire Division One side Burscough Richmond lifted the Light Distribution Ltd. Lancashire Amateur Shield at the County ground in Leyland.
Having twice been losing finalists in this competition in 94/95 and 03/04, the Burscough side were determined to give a good account of themselves.
After some trepidation before the game, it became obvious after 20 minutes that Richmond were holding their own against the Premier league side.
The nippy Richmond strikers Nathan Martland and Jack Golding kept the Blackpool defenders on their toes.
The midfield set up Golding for three glorious chances, one shot striking the woodwork, with an earlier chance being wasted when one on one with the Wrens goalkeeper Alex Cameron on 33 minutes.
At the other end of the pitch, Richmond were being placed under severe pressure by a set of Blackpool forwards who have amassed more than 100 goals this season.
That total, a complete irrelevance to the Richmond keeper Ben Barnes who brought off several classic saves in the first half.
It wasn’t easy for the Richmond defensive guard of Ash Disley, Lee Morton, Saul Guffogg and captain Lee McNabb.
The back line having to be re shuffled due to the absence of the influential centre back Scott Taylor and an injury to left-back John Anderson.
Disley was in outstanding form for the evening, the central defender making a perfect last ditch challenge in a very dangerous position as one of the Blackpool strikers was about to pull the trigger.
McNabb created some consternation when under pressure from the Rovers forwards, the stand in left full-back mysteriously lifted the ball onto his own crossbar, fortunately cleared eventually.
Barnes was having a busy first half, which we all expected, two notable saves kept Wrens at bay with the Blackpool side asserting considerable pressure later in the first half.
Richmond weathered the perfect first half storm and came through unscathed with a credible performance as referee Mr Brown blew the whistle for half time.
Richmond restarted the second half, with Wrens in determined mood to make a break through.
Once again it was the Richmond keeper Barnes making two fantastic saves, and at times the Division One side’s saviour.
The Blackpool side got the goal they were seeking on 58 minutes, a shot from number 10 Danny Morris taking a wicked deflection off a Richmond player and beating Barnes.
Richmond to their credit did not let their heads drop and made a substitution, Jimmy Hanson on for Tommy Corrigan, with later changes, Mario Kramny for Chris Jones and Anthony Murt for McNabb.
The substitution had the desired effect, when on the 70 minute mark, Hanson’s trickery just outside the penalty area gave the winger just enough space to feed a pass to the influential Nathan Martland.
The striker collected the ball a yard inside the penalty area, but was impeded as he turned, went down, referee Brown having no hesitation, pointing to the spot, to the elation of a section of the Richmond crowd.
Was this the luck the division one side needed?
We needn’t have worried as the well placed penalty beat Wrens keeper Alex Cameron for 1-1.
Minutes later and buoyed by the goal, it was Martland again who set up Ryan Giller who fires high from a good position.
As the 90 minutes loomed, it was that man Barnes again who pulled off another brilliant save, the Blackpool side going for a last push to win the game in normal time and avoiding the lottery of a penalty shoot out.
Richmond held on as referee Brown blew for full time.
Richmond didn’t just hold on they played with composure and determination against a very good side from the West Lancashire premier league, the appreciative crowd cheering and clapping at the Burscough side’s 90 minutes of heroics. Now it was squeaky bum time. Five penalties each as it was in the semi final at Skelmersdale with Richmond that night achieving the perfect 5.
First penalty to Richmond, Hanson’s left foot kick finds the back of the net.
First penalty to Wrens, Richmond keeper Barnes flings his arm and hand at the ball and deflects the shot over the bar, to a big cheer from players and spectators.
Penalty number 2: Martland drives the ball into the net. Penalty 3: Golding fires past Cameron. Penalty 4: Giller doesn’t miss, just. Penalty 5: Murt fires over making it 4-4. Penalty 6: Mario Kranmy steps up and drives the ball into the back of the net.
Final kick to Blackpool Wren Rovers to even the score once again.
Cometh the moment, cometh the man, the 6ft 5” Burscough keeper makes himself even larger than he is and dives the right way to stop the penalty.
Unbelievable scenes break out around the ground, the big man had done it for Richmond and gained the man of the match award for his majestic performance.