Shaw Lane won the Trophy last season and now find themselves unbeaten in three seasons after coming through one of their toughest games to end the 2017/18 season with silverware.

It took an unfortunate extra time own goal to split the sides as Church cruelly lost their first County Cup Final. The winning goal came just four minutes into the extra 30 when substitute Chib Chilaka, who scored a hat-trick in the semi-final, supplied a ball into the box from the right wing.

Defender Brett Lovell stretched to try and clear the ball, but saw it beat his own keeper and give the Ducks the lead for the first time in the game.

The scoring started on 17 minutes following a fairly even opening quart of an hour. Church won their first corner of the game and from the delivery Tom Brennan headed home into the far corner.

Shaw Lane shook off the rustiness they were experiencing and Alex Byrne forced Chris Snaith into action three minutes after the goal. Byrne had a second effort on 26 minutes from long range and Damian Reeves was also scuppered by the keeper on 29.

The game was level on 33 minutes when Gavin Rothery played in Captain Spencer Harris and the placed effort from outside the area and beat Snaith through sheer accuracy.

Church almost regained the lead on 38 minutes when Andy Ring looped a header towards goal. A slight touch by Ed Wilczynski tipped the ball onto the crossbar and the Ducks eventually cleared.

Two minutes before the break Nathan Keightley showed that he could play at a higher level by beating the offside trap and raced towards goal for 30 yards before beating Wilczynski at his near post.

After the break it was Shaw Lane who hit back again. This time Ben Gordon worked the ball into the penalty area and his pass across goal on 53 minutes found Kieran Lugsden unmarked and the midfielder made easy work with the finish.

Penistone Church hit back once more and their third goal came just three minutes after the 2-2 equaliser. A free-kick from just outside the centre circle was played long to Lovell who headed across the box to find Ring.

The experienced midfielder made no mistake in beating Wilczynski as the team two divisions below the NPL Premier Division side took the lead for a third time.

Manager Chris Willcock had to make changes and Chilaka was the first as Rothery made way as soon as they fell behind once more.

The final equaliser came on 70 minutes when Lugsden bagged his second of the season with the simplest of tap-ins following a perfect pass across goal by Byrne.

Penistone put pressure on once more during the final 15 minutes as Ring forced a save from Wilczynski and Jake Picton had to clear off the line before full time.

Through the 90 minutes Penistone saw the flag raised before they put the ball into the net and at the end of the first period of extra time it was Chilaka who had one notched off as he slid the ball home from an offside position.

Shaw Lane tried to add to their lead and a minute after the final restart Gordon forced a save from Snaith before Church went back on the attack themselves. Substitute Scott Whittington forced a save from Wilczynski who was also able to win the goal kick.

Just a minute later a save by Wilczynski saw a scramble in the box and the shot heading into an open net smashed the bottom of the post and was then cleared.

A corner from Byrne with seven minutes remaining saw Shaw Lane hit the crossbar with substitute Paul Clayton coming close to wrapping up the game.

There was more drama with moments to go as Byrne held the ball on the edge of the area only to see the ball palmed away in the box and the referee had no hesitation but to give a penalty.

Snaith, however, pulled off a brilliant save to his right to deny Harris at the death and there was no more time for action after that.

The game was a great advert for non-league football and football in Barnsley with both teams going all out to win the trophy.

Penistone Church 3, Shaw Lane 3 (3-4 AET).

Shaw Lane Line-up: Ed Wilczynski, Jake Picton, Ryan Serrant, Kelvin Lugsden, Jake Skelton, Gavin Rothery (Chib Chilaka 56), Alex Byrne, Spencer Harris, Kieran Lugsden, Damian Reeves (Paul Clayton 71), Ben Gordon (Adam Knight 112).

Subs Not Used: Myles Wright, Matthew Davies.

Shaw Lane AFC

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