L4 Secure Cup Win In Extra Time

It had been a long 3 weeks waiting for this one to come around but you can't beat cup final day. It's been a hard tough season and for us but the lads were determined to end it with silverware and were in confident mood. City of Liverpool however had other ideas and opened the scoring in the opening minute with a well timed header from a corner which we felt to deal with. We looked nervous and failed to settle until the half hour mark. It was then that we began to play much better and only for a tight offside call Gift Sibanda would have drew us level. With a strong finish to the half it was imperative that we dragged ourselves back into the game and it came in the final minute of the half when Anthony Cooke's well struck free kick was spilled by the keeper and Gift was first to react to dispatch the rebound into the roof of the net. It was our number 11's 60th goal for our Sunday team leaving him just one short of drawing level with all time top goal scorer Ross Keegan on 61.

Charlie Hacking who has been a revelation since joining us won a penalty which Cooke kept his cool to make it 2-1, but City of Liverpool struck back when they punished us for taking far too long on the ball in midfield. It looked like Hacking had won it for us with 15 minutes left with a superb header from Samson's cross, but The Purps fought to the very end to equalise in the dying stages with a second header from another corner to force extra time.

We found a second gear in extra time, Ben Devlin brought great energy into the midfield and Ethan Danku was causing problems with his direct play. It was time for Charlie Hacking and Alex McDonald to steal the show however with a stunning extra time effort to bring the cup home. Alex's first was a majestic curled effort in the 1st period and Charlie adding a second with another fine finish rounded off by Alex's 2nd of the afternoon late on for his 18th in total on what has been a magnificent season.

Congratulations to all of the lads and for the continuous hard work, determination and resilience shown throughout what has been a season like no other. The lucky "Gold" shirts proved to be worth the investment with another trophy in the L4 cabinet.