Crown 2 Shawdale 2 (after extra time)

Crown won 4 -3 on penalties…

Monday was Manchester City, Tuesday Liverpool, Wednesday Spurs and Thursday almost Shawdale, in this all action thrilling Inter – League Final against Crown Fc at Chadderton Fc.

This game went to the final shot of the game, which saw heart break for Shawdale and in particular goalkeeper Ellidge, who had his best game of the season.

This is how the game unfolded………

These two evenly matched teams took to the field on a dull, damp wet evening, like an army of soldiers going into battle. From the outset, Shawdale took the initiative and threw everything at their opposition. On 6 mins, Durrant hit a curling shot, that was just tipped round the post by the impressive Crown keeper.

On 9 mins the impressive Holmes, hit a strike that was cleared off the line by some desperate defending.

Shawdale were on fire and on 12 mins Holmes hit a screamer of a shot, only to be met by a brilliant save, once again by the Crown keeper.

On 15 mins, Crown showed why they were League Champion, with a great flow of football, resulting in a strike that hit the side netting and a warning to Shawdale. But back came Shawdale, wave after wave of attacks. On 21 mins, Durrant hit a great strike, only to be deflected for a corner. On 22 mins, the ball went over the line, only for the referee to cancel the goal, as an infringement on the goalkeeper.

Was it going to be one of those nights for Shawdale…?

Well on 24 mins, Holmes broke the off side trap, to place the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Again, on 33 mins, Shawdale got the ball into the net, a great strike from Kelly, only for the lines man flagging for offside. On 35 mins, the busy and destructive Barns, who was an handful all evening, threaded a lovely ball into the box, only inches away from a Shawdale foot, putting it into the back of the net.

On 40 mins, against the run of play, Crown equalized with a flying header from their flying centre forward, who caused Shawdale problems with his all evening.

One, one at half time….

The second half was a different story, as Crown got on top, only great defending by Allot, Temple and Lewis and Alistair (who had a stormer at left back) stopping an avalanche of shots from reigning down on the Shawdale goal.

However, this was after 46 mins when Crown took the lead by another great header, into top left hand corner of the goal. It was panic football by Shawdale for the rest of the half, balls flying everywhere. It was panic panic panic.

That was before on 55 mins, from a great free kick by Barns saw Durrant rise like a salmon, to head the equaliser.

It was then nip and tuck, Crown on top, but Shawdale having some late chances to rap the game up. Extra time came and went, with no further goals, however, in the second period, Shawdale did have their better spell and could off rapped the game up, with a couple of great chances.…

It was penalty time……. In the cruelest of events, with Crown needing to score, to win the match. Ellidge produce what looked to be a fabulous save, only for the ball to come back off the post, hit his hand and creep over the line, to seal the victory for this very good Crown side.

Shawdale did themselves proud and their army of fans proud…its always cruel when it goes to penalties and there is always got to be a winner and loser.

They need to pick themselves up now and prepare for their second final on Sunday.