Albion Sports 0, East Bowling Unity 0 (EBU won 4-3 on penalties) - East Bowling Unity completed a hat-trick of cup triumphs after winning a dramatic penalty shoot-out against rivals Albion Sports to lift the Bradford and District FA Sunday Senior Cup at Horsfall Stadium last night.
Albion beat EBU for the Bradford Sunday Alliance Premier Division championship, but lifting the West Riding Sunday Cup, the Alliance Senior Cup and now the District Cup has amply rewarded Unity for their efforts.
There was so little to choose between the sides that it was no surprise that they were deadlocked at 0-0 after extra time to send the final into penalties.
Each team missed two spot-kicks to leave them level at 3-3 after the first five, but as the penalty shoot-out went into sudden death, Mark Whitely scored to put EBU 4-3 in front and Amjad Iqbal suffered the agony of seeing his kick saved by Paul Booth to enable Unity to lift the cup.
No wonder the joyful EBU players chased after their goalkeeping hero as they celebrated their win.
Booth said: "It was a nervewracking experience, but I knew I had to pull off that save for the lads."
Delighted manager John Price said: "I am a Liverpool lad and I am delighted that, like Liverpool, we have won three cups.
"These lads have worked very hard all season and I am as pleased as Punch and proud of the players.
"My lads have played more than 20 games in the last four weeks. They seem to get their energy from somewhere and keep going. I cannot speak too highly of them.
"I thought we were the better side overall, but Albion had a couple of good spells and they were always dangerous."
Albion manager Kulwinder Sandhu, whose side were beaten finalists for the second season in a row, said: "I am disappointed. There was nothing between the teams, but there has got to be a winner."
EBU had more of the play and the chances in an entertaining first half.
Ryan Senior saw his shot blocked and man of the match Steve Blacket's header flew just over the bar before Albion created their first chance. Stefan Zoll cut in from the right, but Booth dived bravely at his feet.
Gary Shaw saw two shots go wide before Booth made the best save of the first half as he turned away Zoll's close-range header.
The standard of play deteriorated after half-time as the players understandably tired.
Goalkeeper John Hawkes twice saved Albion, blocking a fierce shot from Gary Shaw and then diving full length to turn away Blacket's 20-yard shot with a minute of normal time remaining.
At the other end, Booth managed to turn Jatinder Singh's round the post for a corner.
The keepers performed more heroics in extra time to ensure the final would be decided on penalties.
Hawkes dived full length to keep out substitute Dave Elvidge's 25-yard free- kick and Booth came off his line to block Jatinder Singh's shot in the last minute when the Albion player looked a certain scorer.
Albion Sports: Hawkes, Hunter, Ishfaq Hussain, Hermit Singh, Clarke, Amjad Iqbal, Ryan, Forrest, Zoll (Grant 98mins), Tariq Hussain, Jatinder Singh. Subs (not used): Perrin, Inderjit Singh.
East Bowling Unity: Booth, Sweeney, Guest, Handby, Whitely, Newsome, Burnham (Bower 77min), Blacket, Senior, Shaw (Elvidge 83min), Buchan. Sub (not used): Smith.
Referee: Darren Wright.
Bookings Blacket (EBU), Amjad Iqbal (Albion).
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