Radcliffe Borough 1
FC Utd 1 (Radcliffe Borough win 3-1 on pens)

RADCLIFFE Boro bounced back from suffering their first home defeat of the season by beating FC United in a penalty shootout.

Goalkeeper Chris Cheetham was the Stainton Park hero with two saves after the Manchester Premier Cup tie had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

The victory came at cost for Boro with Dave Sherlock limping off with a damaged ankle while captain Danny Lafferty was taken to hospital after the final whistle suffering from concussion.

Paul McGuire’s men went behind on 34 minutes when Michael Brewster fired home from 18 yards. But the hosts hit back on the stroke of half time in front of a crowd of 325 when ex-Boro goalkeeper Nick Culkin allowed Thomas Hulme’s shot to creep under his body.

Culkin made amends in the second half when he denied Sam Grimshaw and Boro went close again 10 minutes from time when Bevan Burey fired wide from a good position after good work from Jack Hindle.

FC’s first penalty in the shootout saw the ball hit the post then bounced off Cheetham and over the line. Danny White then converted for Boro before things got better for Cheetham who saved the next kick. Grimshaw maintained Boro’s advantage, FC then hit the bar and when Hindle made no mistake with Boro’s third the scene was set for Cheetham to make a great save to ensure his side’s passage to the next round.

Culkin denied Sherlock with a double save and Rokka’s lob over the visiting keeper was cleared off the line by Luke Ashworth as Boro enjoyed the best of the early chances before FC opened the scoring on 34 minutes when Michael Brewster fired home from the edge of the box. Two minutes before the interval Rokka again chased a long clearance form Cheetham, this time passing to Hulme who scuffed his shot over the bar.

On Saturday, Boro lost 4-1 to high-flying Farsley AFC. Spencer Harris and Adam Priestley gave the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead before White’s penalty reduced the arrears on 55 minutes and Ross Daly and Aiden Savory sealed the win.