Cleator Moor Celtic 2 Penrith AFC 1 - After extra-time

An extra-time goal from Callum Birdsall saw Cleator Moor Celtic win the Cumberland Cup.

Birdsall delivered the killer blow with a decisive third goal in the match after the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw inside 90 minutes.

Cleator Moor held a deserved 1-0 half-time lead after Ryan Hall slotted home from close-range.

Despite having captain Grant Davidson sent off, Penrith equalised through Connor Shields, but were still consigned to their second Cumberland Cup Final defeat in as many seasons.

Penrith had the first chance with two minutes on the clock. Striker Andy Murray-Jones got on the end of a high Jordan Lawson free-kick, only to glance his header wide of Craig Devine’s left-hand post.

Cleator Moor responded a minute later with an opportunity of their own as Birdsall volleyed over captain Tom Mahone’s right-wing cutback.

Roared on by vocal support at Brunton Park, the west Cumbrians’ next chance came on the 11th minute when a Hall free-kick fell agonisingly wide.

After a good passing move, Brandon Robertson created space for a shot on 19 minutes, but he sliced his effort wide at the other end for Penrith.

Cleator Moor took the lead on the 28th minute as Hall converted from close-range after Brad Tatton’s header back across goal following Darren Little’s free-kick.

A sliced clearance by a Cleator Moor defender presented Murray-Jones with a chance to equalise 10 minutes before the break, though, Murray-Jones couldn’t get enough power behind his header which was held by Devine.

At the other end, Penrith keeper Copland’s blushes were spared after he misjudged the flight of a Darren Little cross-cum-shot which crashed against his crossbar.

Cleator Moor had lost 2-1 to Redcar Athletic in a big match in the Wearside League title race on Saturday, although were showing no ill-effects from that defeat. Jordan Little again cracked an effort against the crossbar in the closing stages of the first period, but Stuart Green’s team had to settle for a one-goal advantage at the break.

Northern League Division One outfit Penrith had a nightmare start after the restart.

Copland was forced to make a big save to deny Cleator Moor’s Luke Close, before Bonny Blues skipper Grant Davidson was sent off two minutes in to the second half by referee Kevin Mulraine for a late challenge. That left Penrith chairman Billy Williams – taking charge of proceedings from the dugout in the absence of player-boss Kyle May and first-team coach Andy Coyles – with some tactical headaches.

And Penrith, who lost to Workington Reds 2-1 in extra-time at the same stage of the competition last season, were missing the potency of strikers Martyn Coleman and Jonny Murray as Murray-Jones squandered another opportunity which Devine tipped wide.

Moments after he had been booked, Lawson almost inadvertently guided a Mahone cross past his own keeper, however, Copland was alert to the miskick and gathered the ball.

Murray-Jones was having the bulk of Penrith’s chances and, after he did well to create room on the edge of the area, he dragged wide of the target on 74 minutes.

But 10-men Penrith levelled the scores 13 minutes from time when Shields stroked past Devine.

As both teams went in search of a winner in normal time, Cleator captain Mahone fired wide from outside the penalty box on 85 minutes.

But the two teams couldn’t be separated inside 90 minutes as the game went to extra-time.

Six minutes into extra-time, Cleator Moor re-took the lead through a scrappy goal as Birdsall eventually bundled the ball past Copland.

Hall had a glorious opportunity to double his team’s advantage on the stroke of half-time in extra-time, only to take too long on the ball which allowed the Bonny Blues defence to recover and clear the danger.

It was Cleator Moor with the better chances and substitute Aaron Kelly forced another stop from Copland on 109 minutes, before Shields was denied moments later at the other end.

In the dying seconds, Penrith thought they had equalised when Adam Main met a Kelvin James cross, but Devine got a crucial leg in the way of the ball to seal the cup victory.

Teams

Penrith – Copland, Lawson (Hunter 117), James, Moynan (Bell 75), Davidson (c), Bowman, Hayton (Paul 68), Main, Shields, Murray-Jones, Robertson.

Penrith unused sub – Burrus.

Cleator Moor Celtic – Devine, Charlton, Edwards, Tatton (Kelly 93), J.Little, Corkhill, Mahone (c), Close, Birdsall (Dunn 107), Hall, D.Little.

Cleator Moor unused subs – Johnston, Barnes, Scott.

Ref – Kevin Mulraine

Fourth official – Anthony Backhouse

Attendance - 604