LINTHWAITE’S League and Cup double hopes are still bubbling – but only just!

After totally dominating the first half of their Under 13 Cup semi-final against Howden Clough, Linthwaite struggled to get going in the second period, and only a desperate defensive display in the last 15 minutes got them past the winning line 3-2.

The warning signs for Howden Clough came as early as the fifth minute when Linthwaite had the ball in the back of the net but, to Clough’s relief, the referee ruled the effort offside.

Clough’s best effort of the first half arrived just a few minutes later but an unmarked Liam Mulholland blazed a volley over the bar.

Linthwaite took the lead after 10 minutes when a perfectly-placed Nathan Oakes pass found Harry Freeth, who drilled the ball into the bottom corner to give the Colne Valley side a deserved lead.

Freeth, whose power and pace repeatedly caused problems for the Clough defence, was on the scoresheet again when he finished off a terrific right-wing run by cutting inside the full-back and driving a powerful shot into the same bottom corner.

And, before Clough could catch their breath, Freeth was responsible for increasing Linthwaite’s lead when his driven cross, this time from the left wing was turned into his own net by a Clough’s Charlie Toulson.

The half-time whistle couldn’t arrive fast enough for Clough, who were lucky to be only three down.

Clough started the second half with renewed spirit and were unlucky not to pull one back within minutes of the re-start but, with the goal at his mercy, Ashley Woods was unable stretch far enough to reach Ashton Thomas’ right-wing cross.

And yet another chance slipped by when Ashton Thomas scuffed an excellent chance and the ball rolled comfortably into keeper Reece Hirst’s hands.

It was now becoming obvious that Linthwaite had made the mistake of ‘switching off’ and Clough were about to make them pay.

The determination of Lawrence Killey finally brought Clough some hope when his run provided Thomas with a half chance and the striker took full advantage by flicking it past the onrushing Hirst.

Hirst’s opposite number, Bradley Beaumont, was called into action next when he was forced to pull off the save of the game to deny Nathan Oakes as Linthwaite tried to put the game beyond their opponents’ reach.

But, the flow of the game had shifted in Clough’s favour and, with Killey, on the left, and Declan Blakeley, on the right, providing a constant threat, Linthwaite’s Dominic Ellam, Tomi Macreeagh and the excellent Callum Harriot-Brown needed all their skills to keep their goal intact.

Yet again, another Howden Clough half chance slipped by when, having threaded his way through the defence, Thomas’s touch past keeper Hirst was just a little too heavy and the striker was unable to catch the ball as it rolled just past the outside of the post.

The Linthwaite camp were clearly nervous as their side were forced into defence for long periods, and they were sent into full panic mode when their two-goal advantage was reduced to one when Liam Mulholland found the bottom corner to give Clough a real chance of salvaging the game with 20 minutes still to play. With the Linthwaite ship in danger of sinking, Nathan Oakes, Clayton Phillips, Dominik Ellam and Dominic Moorhouse finally plugged the holes and, despite a couple of near misses for Liam Mulholland, the Colne Valley side reached the final whistle without further damage.

Linthwaite now meet Second Division Halifax Irish in the final, which will be played at Canalside (formerly Syngenta) on May 8.

A late goal for the Halifax side secured a 2-1 victory over 3D Dynamos in the other semi-final.