The weather intervened to cause the postponement of two fixtures which could have had a bearing on the destination of the County League’s Premier Division title.
The rain caused postponements of the Aspatria v Maryport Athletic and Wigton v Workington Athletic fixtures due to waterlogged pitches.
The postponements gave Workington Athletic a free week prior to next week’s Conway Cup Final against Pirelli which is scheduled for Friday evening at Borough Park, with a 7:30 kick-off.
The finalists in the Benevolent Cup were decided when the last semi-final between Premier Division Northbank and Whitehaven Miners was completed.
Miners, having home advantage, opted to utilise the grass pitch at St Benedict’s RUFC to ensure the game went ahead. It proved to be a good decision as they progressed to the final, although it took extra time and penalties to decide the final outcome.
In a game that provided great entertainment for the spectators, it was Adam Smith who put Miners in front in the first half of normal time. Northbank hit back almost immediately with Jay Green levelling the scores.
There was no further scoring in the first 90 minute period with 30 minutes of extra time required to potentially decide the outcome.
It was Northbank who edged in front in the second period of extra time when Marc Gillimore hit the back of the Miners net. In the last minute of extra time, the game took yet another twist.
Miners were awarded a free kick which was destined for the top corner of the Northbank goal when it was handled over the bar by a Northbank outfield player. The outcome was a penalty kick, with the offending player dismissed from the field of play. Owen Woods despatched the spot kick to bring the scores level again.
There was very little time left on the referee’s watch following the restart and the game went into the dreaded penalty shootout. It was Miners who took the honours winning the lottery 3-1 and progressing to the final to meet Pirelli on a date and venue to be confirmed.
Two of the teams in the chasing pack for the Premier Division title met with Pirelli claiming three points in a 4-3 home victory over Cockermouth.
Kieron Blair, Ben Campbell. Luke Firth and Jack Irving registered goals for Pirelli. Cockermouth responded through Keith Skillen, Kyran Bertram and Luke Graham and kept up the pressure until the final whistle.
In Division One the title is a two-horse race between UniSun Athletic and Whitehaven Miners.
UniSun took advantage of Miners preoccupation with the Benevolent Cup to leapfrog them into pole position with a comprehensive victory over Whitehaven Miners Reserves.
The points were secured with five players sharing the goals in a 5-0 win. Henry Mohammed, Luke Ruddick, Shane Dorward, Matty Williamson and man of the match, Karlton Rudd sealing the win with the final goal.
UniSun’s last League fixture is against Cleator Moor Celtic Reserves, when a victory will assure them of the Championship.
Silloth experienced a heavy defeat at Mirehouse going down 9-4 to the home team. Alan Sim (3), Brandon O’Fee (2), Kyle Bailiff (2), Cyran Corlett and Jake Wight scorted the goals for Mirehouse.
Spencer Irving (3) and Kian Orchard reduced the arrears for the visitors.
The Seagulls have experienced a torrid season having lost a number of players to other clubs early in the season and also, due to the structure of the Division, have had the lion’s share of travelling to fixtures with most of the other teams based in West Cumbria. They are to be admired for sticking to the task.
