Shootout final joy for Borough boys
●● Bacup Under 18s celebrate their East Lancashire FL cup final victory against Clitheroe Wolves EAST LANCASHIRE FL U18S CUP FINAL BACUP BORO U18S ......... 1 CLITHEROE WOLVES ..... 1 ANDREW WALKER
FOLLOWING a tense semi-final penalty shoot-out win, Bacup played against Clitheroe Wolves in the East Lancashire Football League Cup Final at AFC Darwen.
Cup final nerves were on show as Bacup started off slowly, often being sec- ond to the ball, but due to stubborn defending they managed to keep the score level.
As the nerves began to disappear, Bacup started to play some nice flowing football with a good exchange of passes down the left between Kian Grogan and Ryan Lewis, who put numerous good crosses into the Clitheroe area, but some excellent keeping kept them at bay.
There was also some excellent link-up play between Sam Green and Brennan Boys down the right wing leading to further goal mouth chances which were also kept out by some fine Clitheroe defending.
Towards the end of the first half Harrison Leech came on as substitute and made an almost immediate effect putting Louis Holt through on goal and he calmly knocked it round the advancing keeper to make it 1-0 to Bacup at half-time.
Clitheroe came out fighting at the start of the second half which caught a lethargic Bacup out and a long ball over the top to the Clitheroe striker caught Bacup’s defence out and a mistimed challenge from Jordan Walker resulted in a penalty which Clitheroe duly scored to level the game.
Clitheroe were dominating the game, Kieran Reece kept the score level with an excellent goal line clearance.
Despite all the pressure from Clitheroe, the score remained 1-1 at full time
There is no extra time in these youth games so it went straight to a penalty shoot-out.
Clitheroe stepped up to take the first penalty, but a sublime save by Bacup’s keeper Adam Stenton made it advantage Bacup.
This didn’t last long as Bacup’s first penalty was blasted over the bar. Clitheroe scored their second penalty before Bacup’s Kyle Brooks slotted his penalty into the net.
For Clitheroe’s third penalty Adam Stenton looked to have dived the wrong way, but he somehow managed to stick his foot out and keep the ball out – advantage Bacup.
Bacup’s next penalty was well saved so scores were level again. Brennan Boys stepped up for Bacup’s fourth penalty and calmly put it away. Clitheroe missed their final penalty which left Louis Holden to score his penalty and give Bacup Borough U18s a hard fought, but well deserved Cup Final win.