DEWSBURY Rangers Under 13s completed a League and Cup double – but only after being pushed all the way to penalties by Skelmanthorpe in the final.

It was 2-2 after extra-time in the RCD League showpiece, but Dewsbury dashed Skelmanthorpe hopes by winning 5-4 in the shoot-out.

Dewsbury had lost only once going into the final, but mid-table Skelmanthorpe produced something special to test the champions.

In fact, Skelmanthorpe twice came within a whisker of snatching the Cup, only to be thwarted in the last few minutes.

The game started slowly as both sides tried to wrestle control and, with neither defence prepared to give ground, the first half consisted mainly of half chances.

Corey Joseph fired a shot against the bar as Dewsbury tried to catch their opponents with fast breaks, but Skelmanthorpe defenders Alex Spivey, Dan Levitt, Joe Young and Charlie Seargent were alert to the danger, giving the Rangers’ forwards little sight of goal.

Skelmanthorpe’s plan was to build from the back and, while it worked well, they were also denied any clear chances by the solid defensive line up of Callum Kemp, Matthew Higgins, Bradley Duxbury and Jacob Lindley.

With no score at the break, Skelmanthorpe entered the second half looking the more dangerous and, with Dewsbury struggling to find their title-winning form, Josh England, who caused problems for Rangers throughout the game, struck a fine cross from the right to the far post where an unmarked Alfie West was happy to turn the ball into the net to give his side a deserved lead.

While Dewsbury were never allowed time to settle into the game, the setback was enough to fire them into a period of sustained dominance.

With the end of the game drawing close and a Lewis Broadfoot shot rebounding from a post, Skelmanthorpe looked as though they had pulled off one of the surprises of the season – but they were caught out, for the first time in the game, by a defence-splitting pass and they were made to pay a high price.

Bradley Duxbury raced through to side foot the ball past the onrushing Liam Colgan to level the tie and force the game into extra-time at 1-1.

With both sides beginning to tire, the game opened up and, once again, Skelmanthorpe were first to take advantage when West raced onto a Brad Geldart cross and volleyed an unstoppable shot past keeper Joe Haley.

And Skelmanthorpe might have sealed victory moments later when Tom Gilroy’s pass found Josh England at the far post, but keeper Haley was equal to the shot, saving well at the foot of a post.

As Skelmanthorpe edged within a minute of victory, Dewsbury produced one last effort and Alex Newsome pounced to level the game.

Skelmanthorpe, who had done enough to win the game, now had to endure a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out and, with two misses and four successes each, keeper Joe Haley became the hero of the day as he saved Skelmanthorpe’s seventh penalty to give his side victory.

CHALLENGE produced an amazing fightback before winning the RCD Under 16 Cup final on 4-3 on penalties against Hepworth United.

Hepworth led 3-1 in normal time but were pegged back by Challenge, who took the final into extra-time.

They then held their nerve to secure victory.

Meanwhile, Cumberworth beat Deighton 3-0 in the Under 9 Cup final as goals from Harris Walker (2, 1pen) and Jamie Walker did the trick.

In the Under 10 final, Batley beat highly-fancied Lepton Highlanders 2-0 with goals from Ben Crossland and Ellis Benecke.