BARNOLDSWICK Town boss Danny Craig admitted it will take him and his players time to get over their Macron Cup final heartache.

Barlick were beaten 3-2 on penalties by City of Liverpool at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium on Tuesday night after the game ended 1-1.

But Craig felt his side did enough to win the encounter with the Merseysiders reduced to 10 men towards the end of the first half before seeing a second player sent off in the final seconds of extra time.

“I am very disappointed because I felt like we did enough to win the game,” said Craig.

“In my opinion we should have won the game but we didn’t do enough and we didn’t create enough chances.

“We are all hurting now and I think we will need time to get over it before we can go again next season.”

Matty Williams put City of Liverpool ahead from the spot on 12 minutes before he was sent off following an altercation with Barlick’s Harry Thompson.

Craig’s men pressed for an equaliser and got it eight minutes from time when Aaron Hollindrake slotted home Zack Dale’s pass.

The Merseysiders were reduced to nine men late in extra time when Kevin McEllin was sent off but neither side could find a breakthrough and in the end it was the first division side who prevailed on penalties.

Craig added: “We went one down to a penalty and then they had a player sent off and after that they sat back and invited us on but we couldn’t find a way through.

“We did get an equaliser and from then on I think everyone in the ground thought there was only going to be one winner.

“But full time probably came at the wrong time for us as I think if we had played another five minutes we would have scored.

“Then in extra time Liverpool managed the game, they were going down a lot and taking a long time with injuries and subs.

“They played for penalties and they got them.”

Hollindrake and Mark Threllfall converted for Barlick but Andy Hill and Zac Dale missed the first two penalties and when Shaun Airey was denied with the fifth, Liverpool’s John Connolly converted the winner.

The game, played in front of an official attendance of 749, was marred by crowd trouble.

Lancashire Police were called to the ground after fighting broke out between the two sets of supporters while the Hallmark League have launched an investigation into the disorder.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We were called by a steward at Fleetwood Town FC reporting fighting between rival supporters inside the ground.

“We attended to ensure that there was no further disorder inside or outside the ground. There were no arrests.”

A statement from the league read: “The North West Counties Football League has begun an investigation into crowd incidents that marred the League Challenge Cup between Barnoldswick Town Football Club and City of Liverpool Football Club held at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium.

“The league will be liaising with both clubs, Fleetwood Town FC, and the relevant authorities as part of this investigation.

“The league management committee condemns the behaviour of a small minority of ‘fans’ from both sides who were intent on causing trouble.

“We will be making no further comments on the matter while this investigation takes place.”