Burton in final assault

Mar 11 2008 by Linzi Nicholson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

KIRKBURTON will be aiming to make it third time lucky when they face Telecom Sports in the final of the Sheffield Shield.

Burton made it through to the Wednesday, April 23, showpiece at Worsbrough Bridge with a 3-1 semi-final victory against Jubilee Sports.

Manager Dean Calcutt was forced to make a couple of changes to the regular West Riding County Amateur League Division I side, with Richard Kellett in goal and himself on the bench in the absence of Adrian Smith and Michael Reynolds.

But it didn’t take long for Burton to find their form.

The first clear-cut chance fell to top goalscorer Ashley Flynn on 10 minutes when a long kick from Kellett was fumbled by the Jubilee Sports keeper, a defender failed to clear and all Flynn had to do was put the ball into an empty net – but his attempted lob went over.

Jubilee’s No10 gave Burton’s defence a fright soon after when he received the ball in the box from a free-kick, turned and shot but the ball rattled the foot of Kellett’s righthand post and was fortunately cleared.

Kirkburton got the goal they deserved on 40 minutes when Flynn picked up the ball on the left, danced round two defenders and passed to Lee Bradley, who calmly dropped his shoulder, sent a defender the wrong way and slotted his shot into the bottom corner. With Burton pushing strongly in the second half to get a second, Bradley came close with a 25-yard effort coming back out off a post. Substitute Jordan Tindle made an immediate impact when he received the ball on the half way line looked up and put a inch-perfect pass into the path of Flynn, who unleashed a 25-yard screamer into the top corner giving the Jubilee keeper no chance.

With seven minutes left Calcutt came on for man-of-the-match Bradley and it wasn’t long until they increased their lead.

Adam Wilson launched a tremendous right foot volley from 22-yards to fire Burton 3-0 up.

And, as Jubilee pushed up to try and salvage something out of the game, captain Rob Barnes, who had been outstanding in defence all game, cleared an effort off the line on 85 minutes.

Jubilee got a late consolation with their substitute finding the back of the net but Kirkburton marched on.

Meltham progress to the quarter-finals stage of the Huddersfield District League’s Gee Cup and will take on Kirkheaton, following an unconvincing performance at Scholes.

In a match dominated by the wind and rain, it was settled on penalties after 120 minutes of uninspiring football.

Neither team mastered the conditions and the scoreline of 0-0 after extra-time summed up the match and was a fair reflection of the game.

Scholes missed the fourth penalty and it was left to Meltham goalkeeper Graham Beswick to coolly score the decisive fifth penalty to win the tie.