Upperthong won a thrilling RCD Huddersfield Junior League Under 14 Trophy final 6-4 on penalties against Brighouse.
Finn O’Dea was the Upperthong hero with the winning penalty after the teams had drawn 5-5 after extra-time at HAFC’s Old Earth Ground at Elland.
Both sides at one point or another clawed their way back into a final that kept everyone enthralled right up to the final kick of the game.
Brighouse almost got off to a flying start with a shot that rebounded from the bar and their intentions became clear when, moments later, George Jaffry cut in from the left to drive home the opening goal after just five minutes.
By the half-hour mark Regan Metcalfe had scored a second for Brighouse after some good work by Liam Read and Andrew Hopkins (2-0) but at this stage, even with both sides committed to attack, there was little sign of what was to follow.
Oliver Brook went close for Upperthong but his header from Daniel Parr’s corner flew over the bar and, from the counter attack, Liam Read forced a terrific save from Upperthong keeper Lewis Elsy.
Upperthong finally found their way back into the game when Brighouse failed to clear a corner and Brook drilled the loose ball into the back of the net from eight yards (2-1).
The goal inspired Upperthong, who were back on level terms five minutes later when Owen Dawson chased down a lost cause to pull the ball back to Parr, who equalised from eight yards.
Read continued to cause problems for the Upperthong defence and was very unlucky not to restore Brighouse’s lead when, having beaten the onrushing keeper, Read’s shot drifted wide of the
target.
With only seconds to the break, Upperthong might well have taken the lead but, like Brighouse’s last effort, Brook’s shot across goal was inches wide of the mark.
Brighouse’s first-half dominance faded after the re-start and only an Andrew Hopkins goalline clearance stopped Parr from giving Upperthong the lead inside the first minute.
But Upperthong were not to be denied and, when Brook’s throw-in found Dawson, the Upperthong striker turned and fired into the bottom corner before Brighouse could react to give his side a 3-2 lead.
Both Connor Cortese and Parr squandered good chances as Upperthong took control but their persistence paid off when Dawson’s angled shot into the roof of the net gave the Holme Valley
side a two-goal cushion.
Brighouse’s hopes took another setback when William Bennett netted what looked like a game-clinching fifth goal for Upperthong on the hour mark to give them a 5-2 lead, but Brighouse were not finished yet and they were given a new lease of life when Regan Metcalfe reduced the deficit with an unstoppable shot.
Then, with just five minutes remaining, the Brighouse faithful were back in full voice when a clumsy tackle from the otherwise dependable Chris Szoradi gave referee Steve Rushworth little choice but to award Brighouse a penalty.
Jaffry stepped up to send keeper Elsy the wrong way from the penalty spot and Brighouse were back in business at just 5-4 down.
A frantic end to the game featured Read heading a golden opportunity past the Upperthong goal, but the tireless midfielder made amends for his miss moments later when he placed a perfect low cross into the path of Jaffry, who levelled the score at 5-5 to force extra time.
Both sides had opportunities but, despite the extra period, the score remained unchanged and penalties would be required to decide the winner.
The keepers saved a spot kick each to leave the sides level after five but, when Elsy saved Brighouse’s first effort in sudden death, Finn O’Dea was nominated to take the nerve-wracking kick that would settle the tie and he stayed cool to win the League Trophy for Upperthong at the end of a thrilling game that could easily have gone either way.
