The second round of the Sunday County Cup in the west produced some really close encounters.
Salterbeck went through after a hard-fought 2-1 win over fellow Premier Division side Bluebell.
In the first half it looked very much like a game that would be won by Bluebell, as Wayne Sowerby was kept busy in the Salterbeck nets.
The tie was played at a frantic pace with attempts at both ends and quite a few yellow cards being dished out.
It was 0-0 at half time but eventually a goal from Carl Denver on the hour mark gave Bluebell the lead.
Bluebell continued to press and Denver missed an open goal from just yards out, but as legs tired, Salterbeck began to look the more dangerous.
Lewis Maxwell, the Bluebell keeper was now increasingly busy, pulling off one superb diving save.
But they just couldn’t hold on, and with ten minutes to go Nathan Brash equalised for Salterbeck from the left hand side of the box. Then with just five minutes to go, Bobby Carter grabbed the win with a near identikit goal that sank into the right hand corner of the net.
The tie between Maryport Athletic and Glasson Gardeners finished all square and was decided on penalties.
Macauley Sharp and Aston Reynolds scored for the Athletic in a 2-2 draw with Josh Patterson and Dean Scholey replying for the Gardeners.
When it went to the penalty shoot-out Athletic got through 4-3.
JJ’s and Senhouse didn’t quite go to penalties but they needed extra time before it was decided.
It was JJ’s who emerged victorious by 5-4 with goals from Nathan Dryden (2), Callum Killick (2) and Ryan O’Pray. Scott Underwood (2), Zak Starkie and Mattie Fulton ensured Senhouse made a fight of it.
Northside were the day’s easiest winners as the Premier Division champions won 7-0 at Sun Inn Athletic.Tommy Whitehead continued his good run of form by scoring four while Gareth O’Driscoll, Mike Kilgour and Steven Hampton added the others.
Workington League clubs didn’t fare so well against Egremont League opposition.
Dearham lost 2-0 at home to Mirehouse; Sun Inn went down 5-3 at Lowca Pirates and Highfield were beaten 5-1 at Royal Oak.
Richard Hudson, Liam Parker and Shaun Smith netted for the Sun Inn and Harry Braithwaite scored Highfield’s consolation.
