The first of the Cumberland County League Cup competitions of the season for the Conway Cup was settled on penalties.
It had finished 1-1 but in the penalty shoot-out Maryport Athletic beat Cockermouth 4-2 to land the silverware.
The Conway Cup, is played annually in honour of Francis Conway who was killed in a mining accident. Francis was the uncle of the late County FA Chairman, Fred Conway and County League Fixture Secretary, Neil McCrickard.
It was fitting that Neil was present to hand the trophy to Maryport captain, Ryan Porter at the end of the contest.
The final was played at Borough Park, home of Workington Reds and massive credit must be given to the host club for their efforts in getting the pitch playable despite the persistent snowfall the evening prior to the game.
On a cold wet night, a sizable crowd witnessed a close entertaining game which had eventually to be decided by a penalty shootout.
Honours were even throughout the first period, both teams manufacturing scoring opportunities however, neither able to convert these into goals.
It was Cockermouth who took the lead early in the second period. Following some great approach work, Robert Cox headed home a cross from Louis Pickering beyond the outstretched fingers of Maryport custodian Craig Rule.
Following the goal, Cockermouth held sway for a period before Maryport began to reassert themselves in the game and with 20 minutes left they levelled the.scores.
They were awarded a free kick around 30yards from goal. Porter stepped up and floated the kick towards the top right hand corner of the goal, the ball hitting the back of the net off the inside of the post.
Maryport had the ball in the back of the net again with a few minutes of the game left, but the referee disallowed the attempt for offside.
It was the penalty shoot-out that eventually decided the outcome. Both goalkeepers, Max Pickering, who has done well between the post for Cockermouth this season and Maryport’s experienced Craig Rule were in the firing line.
It was Rule, who got his hands to one of the kicks, that eventually decided the outcome, 4-2 in Maryport’s favour.
