Lifton have Lift off to Launceston Cup Semi’s
Lifton – 2
A Penn 74’ D Sharpe 90’ + 3’
Halwill – 1
B Finch 90’ + 6’
31st March 2024
Lifton progressed into the Launceston Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought win over Halwill on Easter Sunday afternoon, in a game that seemed destined for penalties until substitute Andy Penn broke the deadlock with just quarter of an hour left to play.
A fairly even game for long periods looked dead set for stalemate, both sides attacking at will but unable to find a way through either defence or goalkeeper despite playing on a very heavy pitch after the recent wet weather across the region.
When the hosts then doubled their lead in added on time the game seemed done, but credit to the visitors who did manage to pull one back & despite still more minutes of injury time at the end of the contest, the team in red & black managed to hold on for victory.
There was goalmouth action at either end in the first half, the closest to a breakthrough came when Lifton front man Dave Sharpe was put through to face a one on one, rounding keeper Dean Rogers pushed him to the right of goal from where, stretching & off balance, he could only fire over the top.
After the break another home attack down the left saw the ball delivered into the middle where Josh Mayne up against a defender managed to deflect & send the Halwill custodian the wrong way, before any danger could materialise a blue & white shirt got back to clear.
The introduction of Penn at half-time clearly made a difference and it was he who finally gave the home faithful something to cheer, fed on the edge of the eighteen-yard area he twisted and turned a couple of challenges before bending around Rogers into the far corner.
Ralph Finnimore almost doubled the advantage five minutes from time, his header on the front edge of the six-yard box arrowed just wide, but it mattered not as moments later Dan Altaan got in the way of an attempted clearance leaving Sharpe to swing a boot and convert.
Deep into injury time Halwill pulled one back when an initial Andrew Wonnacott shot was blocked but Billy Finch managed to squeeze his follow up through a crowded area, despite the official still adding more time the visitors could not find that elusive equaliser. F/T: 2-1
Competition: Launceston Cup Quarter-Final
Venue: Lifton Recreation Park
Kick-Off: 2:30pm
Surface: Grass
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