Rawdon AFC..........3

Shoulder...............3

(Rawdon won 5-4 on penalties)

ON a brilliant sunny May Day Monday and with the largest Sunday Cup Final crowd for many years, the spectators were treated to a very exciting Wharfedale FA Sunday Cup Final at Guiseley AFC.

In a thrilling encounter Rawdon AFC defeated a gallant Shoulder of Mutton Baildon side in a penalty shoot-out after the sides had finished level at 3-3 after extra-time.

The Wharfedale FA have done extremely well being able to stage their two Cup Finals at Guiseley AFC on Easter Monday and then May Day Monday mornings, the weather for both has been superb and the spectators have rolled in.

This latest final was a roller-coaster game and after the teams had finished the 120 minutes at three goals each, Rawdon won the penalty shoot-out by 5-4 with their seventh penalty, goalkeeper Andy Pickering pushing the Shoulder shot from Brannan onto his crossbar to win the game for his side. The same goalkeeper had also been one of the penalty-takers for Rawdon and he thumped in the best penalty of the 14 taken in the shoot-out, into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

All the six goals in the match had come in the first 90 minutes, Stuart Clarke, Tony Gilks and Lee Parr scoring for Rawdon and Stuart Burgess 2 (one penalty) and Lee Grice for Shoulder.

The game was played in a very sporting manner but Rawdon's Tony Gilks was shown a red card late in the game after his second bookable offence. He thus became a hero and a villian for his side as it was his looping header which had squared the game at 3-3.

The teams battled away through extra-time with no further score and ikt went to penalties.

Rawdon were first up and David Machell, on as a substitute for Rawdon, stepped confidently up to hammer home his penalty.

His cousin Andy Pickering then stepped forward to protect the Rawdon goal and in the penalty shoot out he became his side's hero.

Baildon shot wide setting the pattern for Rawdon'sLee Parr but Stuart Burgess managed to level at 1-1 for Baildon.

Richard Machell then followed brother David's lead and drilled home his penalty before Pickering saved the next Baildon attempt. Kevin Gilks then had his effort saved and Pickering almost saved the next Baildon attempt getting his fingertips to it as it entered the net making it 2-2. Stuart Clarke moved Rawdon on to 3-2, Baildon levelled at 3-3 before Pickering stepped forward to show his outfield players how it should be done. Baildon levelled again at 4-4, Rawdon on their seventh penalty made it 5-4 ND WHEN Pickering tipped Brannan;s effort onto the bar anbd safety he had won the cup for his side.

He was immediately submerged under a possee of Rawdon players as they celebrated regaining the trophy they won in 1998-9.

At the presentation following the game the Wharfedale FA secretary Reg Allwood congratulated both teams on an excellent performance and also the match officials, referee Tony Brown of Guiseley, his assistants Des Lobley of Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ian Metcalfe of Yeadon and fourth official Fred Green of Guiseley.

He thanked Airedale International Air Conditioning Ltd, of Rawdon, for their sponsorship which had helped the Association tremendously over the past three seasons. He thanked them for continuing their sponsorship next season.

He also thanked Guiseley AFC for the very generous loan of their ground and facilities for the finals. Mr Paul Oliver, UK sales director of Airedale International Ltd, presented the trophy and individual mementoes to the players and match officials.

The three Wharfedale FA finals have been a great success this season - the Challenge, Sunday and Junior Cup finals - have all been well attended and Mr Allwood thanked spectators for their support.