AFTER twice coming from behind in the final minutes of both normal time and extra time, Ellesmere Port Catholic High held on to win a marathon penalty shoot-out and claim the under 18s county cup.
The Don Ormes Cup, for Cheshire schools with sixth forms, looked as if it was heading elsewhere at half-time as Knutsford High School led 2-0.
But in the impressive surroundings of Chester’s King’s School, Catholic High dug deep to pull a goal back before Mark Hanson equalised with virtually the last kick of the game.
In extra time, Knutsford again took the lead in the opening minutes, only for Hanson to strike again two minutes from the end of the second period.
In the resulting shoot-out, Catholic High’s second penalty was missed by Tom Shaw, but his keeper got him out of jail by saving Knutsford’s next effort.
The shoot-out went right through the teams before Shaw got the chance to make amends – and he did just that, firing home Catholic High’s 11th penalty.
Knutsford then missed and it was down to Catholic High’s Wales Under 17s star Sam Hart to convert the winner.
