Blackburn Combination Sports Council Cup final Clifton 4 Rhoden Inn 3
8:44pm Tuesday 6th May 2008
CLIFTON completed another successful campaign with more silverware but they were pushed all the way by Rhoden Inn.
The recently crowned Blackburn Combination Premier League champions were hot favourites against a Rhoden side who had just clinched the Division Two title.
But Rhoden, who will play in the same division as Clifton next season, gave the Sports Council Cup holders a real fright as Lee Myerscough gave them a half time lead - a lead they could easily have extended had they taken their chances.
But Clifton were a different side after the break and with their first attack of the half were awarded a penalty by referee Erik Lawrenson after a Rhoden defender handled in the area.
But Graeme Anderson smacked the resulting spot kick against the post and Rhoden scrambled the ball away.
But Clifton - who under Manxman last season completed the Blackburn Combination treble' - were soon on level terms when the impressive Gary Smith equalised with a firm header.
They took the lead for the first time soon after when skipper Paul Egan scored with another header to make it 2-1.
But Rhoden refused to buckle and equalised just after the hour when left back Lee Tattersall levelled matters.
Clifton player/manager Carl Scott made changes and threw himself in to the fray along with Davie Brown at the expense of Scott Mullin and Carl Egan.
And Scott made an immediate impact when he scored at the far post. That lead was extended when Smith capped off a fine game with a wonderful individual goal to make it 4-2 with 10 minutes remaining.
But Rhoden were still not finished and their own super sub, Lance Hamer, scored in the last minute to set up a grand stand finish.
But Clifton hung on to pick up their second piece of silverware of the season.
Billy Markham, Blackburn Combination secretary, said: "The game was a great spectacle and a credit to both teams.
"Rhoden Inn who are the Division Two champions, certainly laid down a marker for next season with their performance against the Premier League champions."
June Steele of the Blackburn Sport Council handed over the trophy while Keith Cookson, a committee member of the Blackburn Combination, selected Clifton's two-goal hero Smith as man-of-the match.