Blackburn Combination Cotton Cup final
Clifton 2 Rishton Utd 1

CLIFTON clinched a Combination cup double to end their campaign on a high.

Having beaten Ivy to win the Birtwistle Cup last weekend, they edged a narrow 2-1 win over Rishton to add the Cotton Cup.

It was an unwanted double of another kind for Rishton as they also lost in the Bob Little Cup final in the East Lancashire League - with a bulk of their team involved in both cup finals.

All the goals came in the first half of an entertaining, if at times fractious affair. It was bright start from both teams but it was Clifton who made the breakthrough.

Tom Doyle latched on to a great cross field pass by Luke Gornall and went down under a challenge in the area. Left back Kieron Holden stepped up purposely and dispatched the resulting spot kick.

But they did not hold the lead for too long.

From a free kick, Clifton keeper Paul Collinge did well to save from Jamie Taylor but Kegan Dobson was on hand to volley home for loose ball.

Dobson was proving to be a real live wire and he skipped away from two challenges down the left and his dangerous low ball was cleared for a corner by a Nathan Davis.

With both teams prodding and probing, it was Clifton who struck next with a well worked move.

Right back Jack Mullin found Nathan Oxendale who in turn passed the ball on to Adam Grogan whose quick release sent Matt Duerden tearing in on goal who placed his shot beyond Shaun Dunne in the Rishton goal.

Dunne was called in to action early in the second half getting down low to beat away a well struck free kick from Aaron Davis. Duerden headed the resulting corner from Grogan over the bar.

Rishton replied with Taylor surging down the left and crossing for Liam Hutchinson but he could not get his shot away.

Dobson and Hutchinson then combined with a well worked short corner which ended with Matt Lancaster looping a shot goalwards that had Collinge scurrying back to his own goal line.

At the other end, Clifton were looking for the killer third and Duerden fired wide after good work by Ricki McGrew.

With time ticking away, Rishton chances were slipping away.

Lewis Hall’s well struck free kick was held at the second attempt by Collinge then Tom Miller made a vital interception to deny Danny Quinn a clear shot at goal.

And when the hard working Taylor burst in to area but fired in to the side netting, Rishton’s last chance had gone and Clifton claimed their second silverware of the season.