Non-league team Lower Breck FC were undone by two missed penalties in a thrilling 2-2 play-off semi-final with Avro FC.
The highly-poised Northern Premier League West fixture under the lights saw Breck come from behind to lead in extra-time, before the home side equalised in the dying minutes to send the game to penalties.
Despite an initial missed ‘panenka’ penalty for Avro, they scored the rest of their penalties as Breck faltered to book their place in Saturday’s play-off final.
Gary Moore’s side came into Tuesday’s game the underdogs, with Avro just missing out on automatic promotion from Northern Premier League West Division to rivals Bury, despite winning their final league game 13-0 to relegated Darlaston Town.
A win on the final day against Shifnal Town secured Breck’s place in the play-offs, an impressive feat for the promoted side.
Both teams were high on confidence, with past form suggesting an away-win was possible after both league games ended that way.
The Vestacare Stadium was alive and bouncing with Breck taking over 150 fans to Oldham.
A game of two-halves
The first half was light on chances, with Avro striker Darrhyl Mason’s close-range shot the highlight but was saved by Theo Roberts.
As the floodlights lit up in the second half, so did the action on the pitch.
Avro were pushing off the gate, as Harry Salt’s cross was barely cleared off the bar.
The deadlock was broken five minutes into the second half, with Jake Cottrell getting on the end of a loose ball in the box to fire home and send the Avro fans into raptures.
Lower Breck had to respond, and they dominated the rest of the second-half proceedings.
Some great blocks from Avro defender Jack Kenny prevented an equaliser straight away as the Merseyside team piled on the pressure.
Breck survived a scare as Cottrell’s shot from range took a mean deflection that scraped the outside of the post and wide.
The away side’s persistence paid dividends deep into stoppage time, as a great counter-attack was slotted home by Lewis Buckley to send the game into extra-time, to the delight of the travelling supporters.
The momentum from Breck’s equaliser continued into extra-time as just three minutes into the half, Buckley’s effort ricocheting off the crossbar.
The comeback was seemingly complete just a minute later, as Jordan Barrow escaped his man in the box to power a thunderous header past Callum Mason to put Lower Breck ahead.
Avro threw the kitchen sink to try and get their equaliser, with substitute Kyle Hawley’s effort saved on the line.
Bedlam in the home stand came in the 117th minute as Darren Ehimamiegho’s cross was turned into his own net by Barrow, going from hero to zero in a matter of minutes.
The game finished 2-2 and headed for a penalty shootout.
After scoring their first three penalties, Sam Burns and Liam Morris both blazed their shots over the bar to the dismay of Gary Moore’s side.
“All credit to the lads”, says Moore
Talking after the game, Moore said full respect goes to the players who stepped up to take the penalties.
“All credit to the lads for taking it so far.
“Just like us in the 90th minute they go (equalise) and then it’s a lottery isn’t it?
“To be leading in the penalties as well, you’ve seen that how many times where the first pens missed and then you have the advantage, and then it swings.
“The lads that stepped up to take them, give them all the credit in the world.”
It will be Avro fighting for a place for promotion on Saturday as they host Stalybridge Celtic at 3pm.
For Lower Breck, their heads will be held high after a successful season after gaining promotion last year.
Moore said: “We’ll take the many many positives that we’ve had this year with some unbelievable results.
“We get to go again next year at this level of football which is exciting.”
(Featured image from James Costello)
