FINALISTS in the Derek Roylance Widnes Challenge Cup at Widnes Recreation Club this Saturday (ko 1pm) are the only teams to have won the competition in the past, write Mick Millea and Paul Glynn.

Cronton Villa, winners for the past two seasons, will take on Moorfield, the inaugural winners from 2003.

But there was a lot of un-certainty along the way, particularly for Moorfield who came from behind in extra-time to defeat the much-fancied Halebank on penalties.

Holders Cronton won through with a 5-1 victory over Village which was harsh on the losers.

All Villa's goals came in the second half after Village had led at the break.

Cronton were made to work all the way as underdogs Village attacked them.

In the first 20 minutes, Villa's Dave Winstanley headed against the woodwork while an effort from Paul McCunnell was tipped past a post by David Hunt.

In between, Village's mid-field and forwards were working overtime.

On the half hour, Dave Robinson beat two men on the right and slid the ball through for the unmarked Dave Marshall to draw the keeper from his line and chip him from 18 yards. The remainder of the half belonged to Village and a couple of long-range shots from Ian Welch went close.

Cronton seemed to come to life in the second half.

On 45 minutes, they had penalty claims turned away by the referee who instead awarded a free kick just out-side the box.

Five minutes later there was another penalty appeal from Cronton and this time the referee pointed to the spot - the Village defender having been adjudged to have raised his arm to block a cross.

Cronton's Tom O'Hanlon took his goal tally in the competition to three by sending Hunt the wrong way.

Within five minutes, Jeff Bell had put Villa ahead with a header from a corner.

Sub Paul Allen was twice denied by the Village keeper but the second of these rebounded for Kevin Gould to fire into an empty net.

O'Hanlon added his second - a header from a set-piece before Paul Stanton drove a free kick past the wall and into the bottom right corner.

Even then, Paul Crewe, Paul Perryman and Craig Simm all went close for never-say-die Village but Phil Summerfield kept them out.

Moorfield went through 4-3 on penalties against Hale-bank after extra-time had seen the sides level at 3-3.

Halebank, despite finishing only second in their group, were favourites with Moor-field's defeat by Widnes Bayer seven days earlier not inspiring confidence.

Halebank started brighter and scored within five minutes. The tall and robust Steven Lewis's shot from the left clipped a Moorfield defender and looped over keeper John Kennedy.

Moorfield had an appeal for a penalty waved away by the referee, when it looked like hand ball in the Halebank penalty box.

Halebank were causing problems for Moorfield with their long-range shooting and, just before half-time, one such effort from Gary Bates caught out Kennedy.

The wind redirected the ball, hitting the keeper on a shoulder and bobbling over the line.

Both sides made changes in the second half - sub Neil Maher proving a steadying influence in Moorfield's mid-field.

In the 80th minute, a through ball by Maher led to Liam Brophy crossing from the left for Mark Madigan to head past Andy Lynskey.

Five minutes later, Brophy again found Mark Madigan - this time with a ball threaded in behind the back four - and the latter beat Lynskey low to the right to level.

Moorfield almost grabbed a winner in the dying seconds but Lynskey saved at point-blank range from Madigan.

Just two minutes into extra-time, Halebank restored their advantage with a fine goal from Lee Woolham, whose 35-yard shot eluded Kennedy's grasp.

This did not deter Moorfield who kept going at Halebank, mainly through Brophy.

The double act worked again as Brophy crossed from a free kick for Madigan to complete his hat-trick and send the tie to penalties.

Moorfield were first to go but late sub Neil Maher's attempt was saved by Andy Lynskey.

By contrast, Halebank's Terry Ware was successful.

Moorfield opened their account through Marc Wilson and scores were level when Halebank's keeper Kennedy swapped roles only to hit an upright.

He later redeemed himself by saving Moorfield's fourth penalty to keep his side interested.

However, it was only a stay of execution as Paul Giles hit the decisive penalty.