MILL Hill wrote another glorious chapter in their history after winning the LFA Sunday Trophy for the second time.

But in the words of their long serving manager Graham Shackleton: “We did it the hard way.”

Shack couldn’t bear to look as the match went to the dreaded spot kicks after both sides could not be separated over 90 minutes – scoring a penalty apiece in normal time.

As shoot-outs go, this was as calm as you are likely to get thanks to Mill Hill’s accuracy from 12 yards and New Farington's lack of it, blazing two of there three kicks wide.

But it didn't stop Shack from hiding out of sight, only emerging when Danny Shaw dispatched the decisive kick.

He would have preferred it if his side had made the most of all their early possession.

Mill Hill were at their dominant best in the opening 20 minutes but just had Mark Taylor’s penalty to show for it after Mark Sharples was fouled in the area.

They could have had a penalty as early as the second minute when Liam Fryer nearly had the shirt tugged off his back. But to his credit, he stayed on his feet rather than go to ground and forced a save out of Neil Halliwell.

Leigh Smith then fired over the bar when a partially cleared corner dropped invitingly to him on the edge of the area. The opening goal arrived soon after.

Fryer, whose lightning pace worried the Preston side to death, skipped clear down the left and neatly cut the ball back in to the path of Sharples whose quick feet forced the foul. Taylor responded like a true captain – taking responsibility to coolly convert from the spot.

Mill Hill were in the mood and Eastwood nearly doubled the lead, cutting in off his right flank, darting between two defenders before dragging his shot just wide.

And the ball was in the net in their next attack but Luke Hargreaves was adjudged offside after applying the finishing touch after Sharples had flicked on a cross from Fryer.

Hargreaves then rattled the crossbar with a thumping header after rising to meet a superb cross from Smith.

It seemed only a matter of time before they scored a second but it didn’t arrive.

Instead, Farington slowly began to play their way in to the game and, after a few half chances, their confidence grew.

Gareth Barratt, a spectator until then, was forced in to a near post save by Ash Ball. The little Preston striker then had a shot superbly hooked off the line by Anthony Harkness before Danny Finch somehow blocked Ryan Broomhead’s follow-up.

Barratt then pulled off a fine double save, scooping away Ball’s shot and Broomhead’s close-range header.

Mill Hill were the happier of the teams to hear the half time whistle.

The second half was more about endeavour rather than entertainment.

And that commitment to the cause was perfectly illustrated by Leigh Smith, the sole survivor of Mill Hill’s first success in 2005. While his final pass did not always come off, he was first to win it back and virtually ran himself to a standstill.

Mill Hill halted Farington’s momentum and regained some of the initiative. The tireless Dean Clarke had one shot blocked and Hargreaves curled a free kick just over the bar. The two combined moments later, Clarke crossing and Hargreaves heading over.

Then out of the blue, Farington were awarded a penalty, much to everyone’s surprise. Farington weren’t complaining and Martin McCubbin slotted home from the spot.

Suddenly the pendulum of power swung their way again. And they should have taken the lead with a wonderful rapid counter attack ending with Byron Andrew planting his diving header against the post.

It was a let off for Mill Hill who regrouped, dug deep and finished the stronger of the teams, nearly nicking it at the end when Finch’s header was cleared off the line.

So to the penalties.

Sharples and Kevin Houghton exchanged successful kicks before Taylor followed up his normal time spot kick with another in the shoot-out.

McCubbin couldn’t follow suit, dragging his effort wide and Anthony Harkness gave Mill Hill advantage.

And when Ball skied his effort, it was left to substitute Danny Shaw to seal another memorable victory.

Mill Hill become the first Blackburn Sunday League team to win the trophy twice but, in the words of Shack, they did it the hard way!

n Mill Hill play New Gardeners in a Blackburn Sunday League decider on Sunday at Griffin Park.

If the game is a draw, the match will be decided by a play-off.