Blackburn Combination: Ivy are cut down as Clifton rise to one final challenge Clifton upset the odds to seal Birtwistle Cup glory

CLIFTON upset the odds to clinch the Birtwistle Cup after a hard-fought win over Ivy at AFC Darwen’s Anchor Ground.

A goal in each half - the second coming deep in to injury time - sealed victory for a Clifton team that finished 15 points behind Ivy in the Premier League table.

Birtwistle Cup finals have been a familiar occurrence for Ivy teams in recent years but for once they did not get their hands on the old trophy as goals from Adam Hughes and Ricky McGrew made sure it was to be Clifton’s day.

Both teams started the final on the attacking front foot and Clifton had the first chance of the game when Adam Grogan broke clear down the left, skipped around keeper Matthew Needham - who had raced off his line - but no-one was on hand to turn home his cross.

Ivy responded with a thumping effort from Liam Lacey that rattled the crossbar from 25 yards - one of four times the woodwork would be struck.

Both sides continue to push forward until Clifton made a breakthrough midway through the first half.

Captain Aaron Davis floated in a free kick that fell to Hughes on the edge of the area who turned superbly and beat Needham with a deflected shot.

Ivy pushed forward looking for an equaliser and Nathan Davis made a timely tackle to deny Carl Mercer before Shaun Watson headed wide from the great cross from Scott Kelly.

Mercer then wasted another effort - heading over a cross from Watson - before he cleverly chipped home a Kelly cross only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

But Clifton were always a threat and Tom Doyle forced a good save out of Needham with shot from the edge of the area.

After the break, Ivy continue to push forward and Adam Hughes made a timely tackle to deny Watson a clear run in on goal.

Clifton then had a narrow escape when Watson’s free kick bounced off the top of the crossbar.

However, Clifton should have doubled the lead when Doyle, playing the role of the lone striker, did brilliantly to hold the ball up for McGrew but he fired over the crossbar.

With time ticking away, play was becoming increasingly stretched and Ivy had a golden chance to draw level but Watson somehow managed to smash his close range effort against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

At the other end, Nathan Davis, the standout defender on the pitch, played a wonderful through ball to Doyle but he shot weakly at Needham.

Ivy were to get one more chance and it fell to captain Alan Scotting who chested the ball down and volleyed acrobatically goalwards only for Collinge to match his effort with a superb flying save.

Clifton made sure of victory deep in to added on time when a breakaway attack saw Doyle cross for McGrew who cut back inside before arrowing his shot inside the far post.