CATON UNITED 3-3 WINSTANLEY ST AIDANS
(Winstanley St Aidans win 3-2 on penalties)
Bluefin Sports Insurance Amateur Cup semi final
Wednesday 7th March
Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge FC
Goalscorers: Mahoney (57), Kirby (64), Hull (66, 86), Beckwith (69), Hartley (79)

Winstanley St Aidans made it through to the final of the Bluefin Sports Insurance Amateur Cup on penalties after a game full of glorious goals. 

Following a goalless first half, Daniel Mahoney broke the deadlock for Winstanley before Caton hit back through Sam Kirby.

Winstanley regained the lead immediately afterwards through Joe Hull but Caton were soon back in it again, equalising once more through John Beckwith.

And United then took the lead for the first time through Alex Hartley but Winstanley drew level with four minutes remaining thanks to Hull.

The tie went straight to penalties and Winstanley missed their first two, but got back into it after Caton missed twice, and their place in the final was confirmed when Beckwith's spot-kick hit the bar.

Caton opened the game up after five minutes of play. Beckwith found himself through Winstanley’s back line and took a shot just left of the goal, but goalkeeper David Naylor managed to deflect it away.

Winstanley’s Mahoney passed a promising ball to Paul Gibson, but Caton 'keeper Ryan Shepherd made a comfortable save from his effort.

The first half continued with both teams struggling to find the back of the net. 

14 minutes in, Joshua Peet received a dangerous cross just outside of Caton’s box, but his shot went just wide of the post.

Hull also had a close chance at scoring minutes later, running tightly up the left wing and put a shot in, but Shepherd made another good stop to keep the score 0-0.

Beckwith tried his luck 10 minutes before half time but his effort was off targ

Caton made the first change of the match as Kirby replaced Matty Buczynski at half time.

Winstanley began proceedings in the second half with a free kick just outside of the box, but Peet's set-piece smashed off the defensive wall.

The first goal finally arrived after 57 minutes; Mahoney was left with plenty of time in front of goal and slotted it in with his left foot.

Seven minutes later the equaliser came from Caton - after winning a corner, Kirby placed himself on the near post and whipped the ball into the net with a fantastic header.

Just two minutes later, Winstanley were back in it through Hull, who scored an impressive top right-hand corner strike after receiving the ball just outside of the penalty area.

Beckwith drew Caton level again on the 69th minute, before Hartley put the away side in front just 10 minutes later, chipping the ball over the top of Naylor.

But Winstanley had the final say as Hull scored four minutes from time, slotting the ball calmly past Shepherd to force the match into penalties.

Winstanley took the first spot kick through Mark Ratcliffe, but his shot was saved securely by Shepherd.

Jordan Sparks scored for Caton before Winstanley skipper David Quigley missed for his side.

Despite scoring during the 90 minutes, Hartley failed to secure his penalty for Caton, before Dean Calloway netted his spot-kick to make it 1-1.

Lewis Plackett failed to score his penalty too, before Mahoney marked an impressive performance with a successful spot-kick to put Winstanley 2-1 up.

Kirby scored his penalty for Caton before Hull did the same for Winstanley.

Beckwith had the decider; he put plenty of power behind the ball, but could only hit the crossbar, sending Winstanley through to the final which they marked by celebrating accordingly on the pitch.

Caton United: Shepherd, Plackett, Moffatt, Thwaite (Brayshaw, 72), Tremble (c), Buczynski (Kirby, 46), Sparks, Lister, Beckwith, Bouskill (Hartley, 69), Briggs-Calvert 
Subs not used: Sawicki, Nightingale

Winstanley St Aidans: Naylor, Sculthorpe, Smith, Roby, Parker, Peet (Ratcliffe, 70), Calloway, Quigley (c), Hull, Mahoney, Gibson (Callaghan, 65)
Subs not used: Fairhurst