Harry Dewhurst Memorial League Cup final Welly 2 Church Town 2 (aet) - Welly win 4-2 on pens

9:25pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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WELLY FC remain on course for the double after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win to beat Church Town in a pulsating cup final.

The league leaders held their nerve in the spot kicks in a thrilling climax to a wonderful match at Accrington Stanley's Fraser Eagle Stadium.

Both teams gave their vocal following plenty to cheer about - not that they needed any encouragement - in a game that was played at break-neck speed.

It was a bitter blow for Church who deservedly took the lead through Chris Drinkwater before Chris Clarkson's second half header forced extra time.

Sam Dean's wonderful header in the second period of extra time seemed to have won it for Welly but Steve Smithson's all-or-nothing punt from distance looped in via a wicked deflection to force penalties.

Earlier, Church had bossed the first half with the superb Jason Hart giving the Welly rearguard a torrid time.

The lively striker, who deservedly picked up the man-of-the-match accolade, popped up all over the place, attacking at pace and shooting on sight.

However, it was strike partner and captain, Carl McDonald, who came closest to opening the scoring when his free kick - awarded after Hart's surging run was abruptly halted on the edge of the area by Ben Hargreaves - crashed against the post.

At the other end, Dean was Welly's main threat but was twice denied clear shots on goal with superb last-ditch tackles by Smithson and Michael Brandon.

But it was Church who kept on probing with Hart at the sharp end of their attacks, forcing Mark Highton in to two smart saves before going close with two more efforts.

Highton then produced a wonderful point blank save to thwart the impressive Kurt Smithson after James Murray had cleverly headed Michael Brandon's deep cross back in to his path.

But Church's adventurous play was rewarded when Mark Clitheroe's throw-in was nodded on by Murray and Drinkwater rose to head home.

Welly had no option but to up the ante after the break and Kieron Riley fired a free kick just wide before Duncan McCormack saved bravely at the feet of Clarkson.

Left back Ben Hargreaves played in the striker soon after to force an even better save out of the Church Town shot-stopper.

Rob Hanson, who had been Welly's brightest attacking player in the first half, tested McCormack again before he was unlucky to be withdrawn from the action.

Church sub Mark Hinksman had a wonderful chance to extend his side's lead but shot weakly at Highton after Hart and Murray carved open Welly down the left.

But it was Welly's own sub, John Hayhurst, who set up the equaliser when his corner was headed home by Clarkson.

Dean, Riley and Clarkson all went close as Welly ended the stronger before the game went in to extra time.

And there they continued to have the upperhand and only the width of a post denied Clarkson from giving Welly the lead.

But the lead did come after the break when Riley's teasing cross was met by a thumping header from Dean.

It seemed it would be enough to win the game but defender Drinkwater had other ideas.

Pushed in to attack for one last hurrah, Drinkwater's speculative long-range effort took a wicked deflection to beat the back-peddling Highton to force penalties.

Clarkson and McDonald tucked their respective spot kicks away, as did Dean, but it was advantage Welly after Church substitute Matt Pilkington lifted his over the bar.

Graham Draper hammered home that advantage while Michael Brandon kept Church in the shoot-out.

But after Hayhurst made it four out of four for Welly, the other Brandon twin, Matthew, saw his spot kick saved by Highton.

It was a cruel end for Church, and Brandon in particular, but this final was never going to go quietly!