U18s Cup Final 7th May

Rishton United 1-1 Rossendale Valley (Rishton United win 5-4 on penalties)

Rishton United capped off their season - and finished on a high by lifting the East Lancashire Football Alliance League U18s Cup. The final, played at Hays playing fields, was a tight affair. Rishton United took the lead after 15 minutes when Cameron McDermott chased down a clearance and the ball deflected over the advancing Rossendale keeper. But Rossendale Valley - who went into the game as league champions and unbeaten in three years, pulled a goal back on 55 minutes. Rishton keeper Callum Dwyer had an excellent game, while Rishton had a goal disallowed just before the equaliser. Rishton had to dig in, with a number of players carrying injuries - and extra time passed without too much incident at either end with both teams running out of gas. Penalties were an incredible affair - Callum Dwyer saved 4 penalties for Rishton, but nerves meant Rishton themselves missed 4 penalties. The decisive winning penalty came from man of the match Callum Dwyer, who struck the winner down the middle to win the cup for Rishton. Credit to both teams playing their final youth game and for Rishton, it was a deserved first cup win since forming as Under 10s.

Rishton team: Callum Dwyer, Dylan Thompson, Lewis Aspden, George Polvani, Matt Saul, Matthew Ingham, Lewis Richmond, Nathaniel Cunningham, Jayden Coyne, Cameron McDermott, Jake Hoskin, Josh Field, Jamie Chadwick, Dylan Henry

The league awarded goalkeeper Callum Dwyer player of the match.