A game that neither side deserved to lose, was decided on penalties after the teams were level 1-1 after extra-time in this Dolphin’s Bakery Cup Quarter Final.
An under strength Trawden team, who had four regulars missing due to injuries and suspensions, fell behind early in the first half, when a defensive lapse was punished by the Brierfield striker, who gave Ben Gorman in the Trawden goal no chance when through one-on-one.
Trawden huffed and puffed for the remainder of the first half without really troubling the determined Brierfield defence.
It was one-way traffic in the second half as Trawden pushed for an equaliser, and Brierfield relying on the breakaway.
With ten minutes to go, Oliver Slater won a battle with a defender on the edge of the box and finished with a screamer into the top corner of the Brierfield net, giving the keeper no chance.
With striker Phil Shaw nursing another injury, captain Callum Whitfield moved to attack to try and grab the winner, coming close a couple of times. Man-of-the-match Liam Britton, who was limping throughout the second half, moved back to defence. Neither side could muster a winner and the tie went into extra time.
The first period saw Brierfield, who were hanging on towards the end of normal time, come back to life. A great header by their number 8, saw Ben Gorman pull off a tremendous save to his right to keep the tie level.
The second period was pretty even as both teams tired and settled for penalties.
With the shoot-out at 4-3 to Trawden, Ben Gorman saved Brierfield’s fourth penalty superbly to give Trawden the edge. However, Trawden missed their next two spot-kicks (no names mentioned!) and at 4-4 The Brierfield ‘keeper swapped roles and became penalty taker. He made no mistake and Brierfield triumphed 5-4.
A great cup tie which the fog did it’s best to ruin! Good luck to Brierfield Celtic in the semi-final
Man-of-the-Match was Liam Britton
