Penshaw make Boys Club pay the penalty as Catholics reach a final
Penshaw Catholic Club made it through to the Mill View Social Club Sunderland & District Over-40s League's Robson Pattison Cup semi-finals with a 7-6 penalty shootout win in a terrific game at Wallsend Boys Club.
Wallsend are a big, strong side but could not cope early on with the pace of Penshaw forwards Moody, Charlesworth, Hodgson, Donnelly and Liddle, and Penshaw raced into a two-goal lead inside 10 minutes, Donnelly with a fine strike from just inside the box and Liddle with a poachers goal from close in.
In a half dominated by Penshaw, who should have added to their tally, the only Wallsend chance was from a free-kick inside the six-yard box, harshly awarded for a back-pass, which was superbly blocked by Penshaw keeper Tony Mustard.
Wallsend made substitutions at half-time, which seemed to make them bigger and stronger, and with the wind at their backs they took the game to Penshaw and drew level with a penalty and a free-kick midway through the second half.
Penshaw were under severe pressure for the final 20 minutes but held out to take the game to penalties, although Simon Holland almost won it for them when he rattled the post late on.
The penalty shoot-out got off to a bad start for Penshaw when they missed their first spot-kick, and with penalties
being converted in turn, it was left to a Wallsend player to convert his team's fifth and win the game for his team.
However, Mustard had different ideas and came to the rescue with a save down to the
left corner of the goal.
Penshaw converted the next two and Wallsend one before Mustard repeated his earlier heroics, this time with a save low down to the right to seal a memorable win for
his team.
Next up for Penshaw is a home semi at Herrington CW against a Blyth side boasting ex-professionals Pascal Chimbonda and Olivier Bernard.
In the other quarter-final ties, Blyth Masons Arms beat Sherburn Village WMC 4-1, Marden won 2-1 against Ferryhill Greyhound Vaux and FC Blues beat South Shields 4-0.
Any hopes of an all-Hartlepool final in the Ironside Cup disappeared in the semis as Hartlepool Tech were heavily beaten by Seaton Buildings, while Hartlepool Cricket Club lost in their tie 5-2 to Newcastle East End.