Big two in Top Four Cup final
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Chimney Corner’s Johnny McClurg battles for possession against Brantwood.
Harryville Homers: 4 / Holywell: 4
(Harryville Homers win 3-2 on penalties)
This game was a great advertisement for the BSML as both teams played open and attractive football, but unfortunately for Holywell the tie was won 3-2 on penalty kicks by Harryville Homers.
Holywell should have been 1-0 up after five minutes when Geoff McNicholl was left clear but somehow he fired wide.
The next goal mouth action came seven minutes later when Gary Baird collected the ball in midfield, held off tow tackles and spotting Holywell keeper Keith Wise off his line lobbed the ball over him and into the net to open the scoring.
Jason Stevenson was unlucky not to make it 2-0 for Homers when his 25 yard free kick smashed off the crossbar. Holywell gradually worked their way back into the game and should have equalised when Geoff McNicholl was again left clear but this time his shot was saved by Homers keeper Ian Balmer.
One minute later it was all square when a cross from Gary McClean fell to full back Ryan McAuley who rocketed a shot into the net.
Holywell then took the lead when Gary McClean squared the ball across the box for Geoff McNicholl to knock the ball home.
The second half saw Homers press for the equaliser and it came after 10 minutes when a cross ball from Jason Stevenson was headed home by Gary Bonnes.
As the game flowed from end to end both teams created chances but it was Holywell who regained the lead when good work from Gary McClean and Geoff McNicholl created the opening for William McGarry to score.
It was all square at 3-3 ten minutes later when a powerful Paul Sloan shot was parried out by Holywell keeper Keith Wise and Gary Baird was on hand to poke the ball home.
Homers looked to have won the game 10 minutes from time when a Ian Millar free kick was headed home by Alan Rainey, but there was to be one last twist when Geoff McNicholl collected the ball the ball in the Homers penalty area and rocketed a shot into the top corner of the net to send the game into extra time.
In extra time both sides had chances but neither side could find the target as the game went into penalty kicks which Homers won 3-2 with the winning penalty coming from veteran David Lowry.
