CUMBERWORTH Reserves are the new District League’s Richardson Cup holders.

They defeated Berry Brow Liberal Reserves 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out last night, after the sides had battled to a 2-2 draw at Marsden.

The game was a dour affair with both sides relying too much on the long ball.

But the Division II side held their nerve in the shoot-out in the gathering dusk to pick up the trophy from long-serving District League official Mick Castle.

Cumberworth took an early lead in the third minute when a hopeful ball into the Brow penalty area was misjudged by keeper Matt McCaffrey and was bundled home by Luke Sykes.

But Brow were level just nine minutes later, when Jonny Lodge was fouled 20 yards out and picked himself up to curl a super free-kick into the corner of the net.

A turning point came on 27 minutes when Brow lost defender Dave Lomas after a clash of heads and were forced to reshuffle. It disrupted their rhythm and both sides found it hard to play good football.

Brow took the lead on 68 minutes when James Atkinson swung in a lovely cross from the left and substitute Damon Hever powered home a fine header.

Ten minutes later, however, Cumberworth defender Tom Snowball, who looked commanding at the back, pushed forward and fired in a fierce shot from 35 yards which was fumbled by McCaffrey to bring the teams level.

Berry Brow: McCaffrey,Greenhalgh, Dixon, Lomas, (Hever) (Walsh R), Bodsworth, Lodge, Ryan, Atkinson (Dobson), Pearson, Greenwood, Cudjoe. Substitute: Walsh.

Cumberworth: Hey, Smith, Fairburn, Snowball, Raynor, Senior (J) (Dodson), Sykes, Senior (G), Barkworth, Short, Whitehead (Simpson). Substitutes: Smith, Swap.

Referees: Alan Phillips; assistants Brian Whittaker, Vic Murray.