2015 LAUNCESTON K.O CUP Final

KILKHAMPTON 1-1 BOSCASTLE (Kilk' won 8-7 on penalties a.e.t)


Lee Gardiner................................Dan Piper
Kilk' dominated the early exchanges on a wet grey evening at Pennygillam, as Boscastle relied on centre-half Danny Capstick clearing up and keeping the scores level. With plenty of big challenges going in from both teams the game became a scrappy affair as neither side seemed to be able to control the ball on the slick surface.
The first chance came for Kilk' as a last ditch tackle by Capstick the ball fell kindly to striker Jack Thorne who pulled his shot wide, soon after Tom Shadrick struck the Boscastle crossbar. The bar was left shaking again as Kilk' full back Joel Davey rifled in a shot following a poorly cleared header from a corner.
Boscastle started getting into the game more as the first half came to a close, Jake Dickenson seeing a long range shot sailing just wide of the post. As the rain started to come down again referee Richard Butter's whistle blew and the sides went in 0-0.
The game came to life in the second half and the deadlock was broken after ten minutes of the second half. A Kilk' cross from Davey was turned in by Lee Gardiner - a scruffy goal as Boscastle failed to clear their lines and the ball trickled past ‘keeper Jamie Burnett into the bottom left hand corner from six yards. Soon after a good through ball over the top of Boscastle’s defence to Kilk's striker Jack Thorne, he then had a 'one on one' but the flag went up for a very tight off side. Jack Thorne turned assist maker with a neat Cruyff turn before playing in Shadrick whose shot was blocked by Burnett.
Henry Bright replaced Jordan Sleep for the first Boscastle change, and it proved to be a valuable one as the young midfielder brought an extra urgency to his side's play.
Save of the day by Kilk' keeper with 20 minutes to go came from Cann who stopped a powerful header from Matt Pethick. Boscastle really started pushing for the equaliser as their fullbacks advanced and the gamble paid off as a through ball was collected and arrowed in by Dan Piper. Both sides searched for a winner but no real chances formed before the final whistle blew.
Boscastle started to take control of the game as extra time ensued, but as players from both sides began to look tired the dreaded penalty shoot-out became inevitable.
Both sides coolly slotted away five regular spot kicks it was down to the nerve-racking sudden death stage. Capstick stepped up only to see his penalty saved by Stuart Cann and finally Kilk' had a chance to win it. Striker Thorne kissed the ball on his approach to the spot, he then composed himself before firing the penalty into the net and the jubilant celebrations began, with hero keeper Cann mobbed by his team mates.