The Owls raced into a 3-1 lead with just six minutes left as Brody Robertson’s hat-trick looked like it had sealed the win for the Owls. However, a resolute Handsworth never gave up and equalised in the 90th minute. Just four minutes later, Sam Smith slotted home a penalty which was awarded after Lawrence Heward had been adjudged to have handled inside the area.

Marcus Newell made four changes from Saturdays 3-1 win over Staveley Miners Welfare, bringing back Alex Flett, Luke Mascall, Richard Peck and Lawrence Heward.

With the sun shining over Chesterfield, the Owls kicked off the 2015 NCEL League Cup Final. The opening exchanges saw very little penetration from either sets of forward but the Ambers did have the majority of possession.

In the third minute, Ambers Captain Richard Adams went close as he headed a long free-kick straight into the arms of Owls keeper Liam Higton.

Just 30 seconds later, another free-kick was awarded to the Ambers but this time Owls Captain Darren Hanslip managed to usher the long ball out of play as Alex Rippon attempted to get a hold of the ball.
The Ambers kept the pressure up and should have taken the lead in the eighth minute but Higton managed to palm Kieron Wells’ shot around the post.

The good start from Handsworth continued as the Owls struggled to play their usual fluid game. Smith caused problems inside the box but Heward managed to stick a leg out to deny the striker as the ball looped over the bar for a corner.

Adams was next to try his luck for the Ambers, but his headed effort from a corner went inches the wrong side of the right upright.
In the 13th minute, Matthew Kingston and Colin Morrison both went for the same ball and clashed heads. The former eventually had to be substitute with concussion and a suspected broken collarbone.

The first real attack of the game for the Owls resulted in the first goal of the game. Robertson attempted to break through the Ambers backline but found Ben Starosta blocking his path. The ball bounced off the defender but back into his path and with just the keeper to beat. Robertson riffled home a rasping drive to the keepers left giving him no chance.

Moments later, the Owls should of extended their lead but as Robertson broke the offside trap and round the keeper, Adams managed to dart back onto the goal line and clear the effort which came back off the post.

With his confidence high, Robertson, in the 22nd minute then tested the keeper once more but his daisy cutter was comfortably saved.
Winger Jonathan Oglesby then found himself running at the Handsworth defence. He carved an opening 25 yards out but his swerving effort was comfortably saved by Andrew Sneath.

The equaliser did come eventually as the Ambers pushed forward, but not before a string of world class saves from Higton. He first denied Wells but then the ball was lofted back in and forced home by Smith as Higton appeared to be blocked as he went for the ball.

Higton was then called into action just two minutes later as he prevented Wells from scoring from a close range effort.
With the half-time whistle looming, both sides had one last chance each to take the lead. First, Robertson bumfuzzled his way past Starosta but his scuffed effort rebounded off the post much to his angst.

At the other end, a mistake from Peck saw Wells capitalise but he just could not hit the target as his right-footed effort was dragged wide.
The Referee blew her whistle seconds later to end an entertaining first half.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, with the Ambers having the majority of possession. Luke Fletcher went close just two minutes in after a long ball nearly deceived Higton, but he managed to claw it back off the line.

A long ball from Alex Rippon then caused the Owls defence problems as Fletcher latched onto the ball with a great first touch but his shot let him down as it went over the bar.

Ambers Gareth Davies tried his luck from 25 yards but had left his shooting boots in the changing room as he shot well wide of the goal.
Defender Peck, then missed a golden chance for the Owls as the ball was delivered in from the right. The keeper missed the ball but Peck had no time to react as the ball bounced off him and over the bar from just three yards out.

The miss did not matter though as just 35 seconds later the travelling Owls fans were celebrating as Robertson scored his 39th of the season as he linked with Matthew Kennedy and slotted the ball home sparking jubilant scenes.

Just seven minutes later and the Owls made it 3-1. Robertson completed his hat-trick as he side footed an Oglesby cross in the back of the net and as the players came together to celebrate, it looked like the Owls had sealed the win.

The game changed just five minutes later when a scuffle inside the box resulted in substitute Lee McFarland being dismissed for an off the ball incident. The Referee then awarded a penalty to the Amber which was then rescinded and a free-kick awarded the other way in a bizarre scenario.

With just ten men, the Owls tried to wind down the clock, retaining the ball in advanced areas but this did not work. A cross from the right from Rippon saw Wells head home to narrow the Owls advantage.
Just before the game entered stoppage time the Ambers had a great chance to equalised but Wells, looking for his second goal in six minutes shot wide of the mark after a fantastic pirouette just outside the box.

Wells did not have to wait long though for his second goal as in the 91st minute, a scramble inside the box saw the ball fall to the striker just five yards out. He smashed the ball home to level the tie.

The game looked like it was heading to extra-time but the Ambers pushed forward to search of an injury time winner and it was from a dubious penalty. Heward was adjudged to have handled inside the box as the ball was played against the 22year old, it bounced up onto his arm from three yards but the Referee awarded it. Smith stepped up and managed to squeeze the ball home with virtually the last kick of the game to gift the Ambers the NCEL League Cup.

The Owls would like to thank all the players, staff and fans for all their work throughout the season and hope you will join them during pre-season which will start in July.