IN A fitting finale to the RCD League cup finals day, Howden Clough took the Under 18 trophy after a thrilling 5-4 penalty shoot-out against Ryburn Valley.
Although Ryburn were crowned league champions last week, an exciting game was expected as two 3-3 draws were the result when these sides met previously.
Howden Clough were first to make their mark, taking total control in the first half and when Steven Wales struck the opening goal, Ryburn looked a shadow of the side which had lifted the title.
Ryburn began to find their form after the interval and, by the time Nathan Cleary headed the equaliser on the hour mark, the Halifax side were looking the more likely winners.
A Chris Silkstone strike in the first period of extra-time gave Ryburn the lead for the first time in the game and left Clough staring at defeat.
With only five minutes remaining and nothing to lose, however, Howden Clough threw everything, including keeper Nathan Fletcher, forward and their hopes of salvaging a lost cause paid off when Kyle Laycock calmly slotted the equaliser into the bottom corner from six yards.
After three games in the season, the sides could still not be separated in extra-time and the only course of action remaining was a penalty shoot-out.
With Ryburn having missed just one of their five attempts, it was all down to Steven Wales to score the winning goal and the Clough striker stayed calm to hammer the ball past Danny Yates to give Howden Clough the cup.
In the Under 16 final, Lepton Highlanders scored a 3-2 success against Rothwell to take a step closer to a league and cup double
Despite scoring twice Rothwell, who also came runners-up in the County Cup this season, were never in the lead.
Craig Burns gave Lepton a first half lead and two second half goals from Adam Hill proved just enough for Lepton who, with the cup already in their pocket, now need six points from their last three league games to secure the title.
