Royals into RICC Junior cup final

A goal five minutes into second half stoppage time by substitute James Elderton, from a Ross Blakemore assist, levels the scores at two apiece and took the match into extra time.

Despite having an extra man advantage, following Eldon’s goal scorer McKoy Palmer, being dismissed late in the second half for a for second cautionable offence, Royals were unable to secure the win and needed a late goal line clearance by Joe Sissons that took the tie to penalties.

The match had started in lively fashion with Palmer putting the visitors ahead in the eight minute and Liam Wilson levelling from the penalty spot seven minutes later after he was fouled.

However, Palmer quickly restored the lead in the seventeenth minute when his pace enabled him to attack from the right side and drill a shot past Pete Davies.

For much of the remainder of the half Royals struggled and did well to go into the break only one goal behind.

Greater desire was shown in the second half by Woodley that included hitting the cross bar, Wilson seeing an excellent cross evade an oncoming Harrison Moore and enjoying good possession in the hosts half. This was rewarded from the free kick that led to Palmer’s sending off being played into the Eldon penalty area where Blakemore reacted first to set up Elderton who scored from close range.

With no extra time goals, the match went to penalty kicks with Woodley going first and scoring through Dylan Chaffin. Sissons and Zack Pearce both scored with the scores level at three a piece after five kicks per team. With the match now to be decided by sudden death penalties, Alex Pearce scored United’s fourth penalty to be followed by Eldon putting their sixth kick over the cross bar to see United progress to the final to be played on Friday 10th May.