AN incredible Echo Cup final saw Rastrick CC land the victory spoils with an extra time victory against Junction at St Giles Road.
The omens weren't good for Rastrick with Jason Tiplady and Ben Charlesworth both out injured against a Junction side with the league championship and John Smiths Shield already in their trophy cabinet, but they eventually triumphed in a match w
ith seemingly endless twists.
CC took an early lead when Anthony McDonald was felled in the area by Danny Thornton and David Hemmings fired past Cuthbert in the Junc' net, but the league champions levelled when captain Tim Driver's free kick was deflected in by the unfortunate Lee Shirtliffe.
A free header in the box allowed Matthew Banks to give Junction the lead, but CC levelled before the break via McDonald's free kick only for Junc' to regain the lead through Banks's header.
The pace slowed after the break but as Junc' were unable to kill of their opponents, Rastrick pulled out a late equaliser when sub Nigel Dare crossed for Chris Wdowczyk to scramble the ball home to force extra time.
Rastrick CC had barely stopped celebrating when Hemingway and Malone combined for the former to put Junction back in the lead ust 20 seconds into extra time.
The Cricket Club looked down and out as the second period of extra time began but sub Steven Ashford cracked a top drawer volley into the corner of the net to once more restore parity.
Then another replacement, Paul Askham, became the hero by latching onto a header won by Damian Roebuck and scooping home despite being grounded in the penalty area, with Chris Bishop lifting the trophy for Rastrick CC and Junc's Banks securing the coveted man of the match award after a magnificent final.
The full article contains 311 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
