THE PREMIERSHIP TWO LEAGUE CUP DREW BLANK IN OPEN PLAY BEFORE A DRAMATIC SUDDEN-DEATH PENALTY SHOOTOUT SAW WAKEFIELD ATHLETIC “A” THANKFUL TO THEIR KEEPER WILL RUSHFORTH WHO PULLED-OFF TWO SAVES IN THEIR CLOSE 5-4 WIN OVER JUNK OLD BOYS.

Wakefield & District Sunday Football - Sunday 7th April 2024.

PREMIERSHIP TWO LEAGUE CUP FINAL

Junk Od Boys vs Wakefield Athletic A (0-0)
Wakefield Athletic won 5-4 on sudden death penalty shootout.

Goalkeeper Will Rushforth made two penalty saves in a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout success which saw Wakefield Athletic A lift the Premiership Two League Cup against league leaders Junk Old Boys at the Nostell MW complex on Sunday.

With a 24 points difference between the two sides in the league, Junk Old Boys were firm favourites in this cup tie but both sides pushed each other to the wire which saw a stalemate after 90 minutes and pushing the final into a penalty shootout before a dramatic sudden death spot-kicks saw the Wakefield outfit come out trumps with an excellent full length save from Rushforth in sudden-death shootout before being engulfed by the wild celebrations of his team all the way from the centre of the circle to his goal area.

The Wakefield side made a bright start and saw a long pass by Joseph Scargill send speed merchant Harrison Byrne towards the Junk Old Boys danger zone, only to be denied by the recovery challenge of defender Tom Radley in the 3rd minute. Radley again came to his sides rescue with a clearance after some good work and goal-bound effort by Ted Dunning.

The Kirkburton outfit were forced to defend stoutly with Ash Downing latching on to a Jack Longly pass before seeing his under-hit lob fail to find target into the keepers reach. Minutes later, a long punt by goalkeeper Will Rushforth was poorly judged by the oppositions defender allowing the ball to bounce over him only for Ash Downing to steer his chance narrowly wide.

Junk Old Boys got to grip with the game after 20 minutes with both Tom Clarke and George Whittaker beginning to pull the strings and poising problems for the Wakefield Athletic side and forced a series of corners which saw both a headed effort from Tom Radley and a Jack Hepworth close-range force saves from goalkeeper Rushforth.

The second-half saw the Junk Old Boys in a dominant mood and forcing the Wakefield Athletic rearguard into a sterling performance and when they were breached, the heroics of their custodian Rushforth was ever alert to foil any penetration.

A long kick by Junk goalkeeper Conor Mahoney sent Jack Hepworth clear in the 51st minute only to waste a golden opportunity shooting straight at the goalkeeper. At the other end, the persistence of Ted Dunning saw him outsmart the close attention of his marker before driving a low cross across the Junk goal but a tap in opportunity did not come to fruition with tired legs slow to react to a good goal scoring situation.

The Junk Old Boys finished the last quarter of an hour much the stronger outfit and their opponents threw in a quartet of substitutes to try and win the game in the 90 minutes with fresh legs on the big stamina sapping pitch at the Nostell MW pitch and with the penalty shootout in mind which was to prove a master stroke.

A late scare saw Wakefield Athletic goalkeeper Rushforth make a point-blank save to deny Matty Hainsworth to force the final into a penalty shootout which produced a dramatic sudden death penalty success for Wakefield Athletic A and misery for the favourites Junk Old Boys.

Wakefield Athletic A found target on the first three spot-kicks through Ash Downing, Dalton Holford and Luke Barraclough before a David Mitchell spot-kick was pushed onto the post by keeper Mahoney. Junk Old Boys saw their first spot-kick by Rob Bartam saved by keeper Rushforth before goals by George Whittaker, Jack Hepworth and Tom Ladley took the penalty shootout to 3-3 after four spot-kicks each.

The tense drama continued with Dominic Taylor goal making it 4-3 to the Wakefield side only for Matty Hainsworth to fire home to make it 4-4 and take the penalty shootout to a sudden death. Defender Craig Holdsworth hammered home an excellent spot-kick to make it 5-4 before keeper Will Rushforth produced an acrobatic full-length stop to deny Ben Carrington and condemn Junk Old Boys to defeat after a goalless draw in open play to the jubilation of his team in front of a large crowd.

~ The man of the match award sponsored by Pennines Trophies (Heckmondwike) was won by goalkeeper Will Rushforth of Wakefield Athletic A.

~ The match balls were sponsored by Lightwaves Leisure & Community Centre (Wakefield).
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