Pennine Black win Radcliffe Borough Tournament

Pennine Blacks - winners of the Radcliffe Borough Tournament

After a highly successful season, Pennine Black capped it by winning the Radcliffe Borough Tournament.

Full of confidence, and anticipating a strong showing with potentially some silverware to show for it, when the group stages were drawn the boys were paired with Todmorden Athletic, Flixton Sharks, Barr Hill Aces and Walshaw B+W.

The first game saw Pennine take on Todmorden Athletic. A solid performance against a big, strong side saw Pennine dispatch the opposition 3 - 0. Brad grabbed two well taken goals and a classy finish from Lucas completed the scoring.

In the second match Pennine faced Flixton Sharks. In a tough encounter Pennine produced some good football to win the match 2-0. Brad was again on the score-sheet and Thomas slotted home a penalty.

The third match of the day was a bruising encounter with a very physical Barr Hill Aces. It looked like luck had deserted Pennine when a seemingly innocuous throw in led to a Barr Hill goal. Pennine threw everything they had at their opponents and pinned them back for the rest of the game. Then just as it looked like they were going lose, up stepped Logan to rifle home the equaliser to gain the boys a crucial point.

Pennine went into the final group match knowing a point would secure a semi-final spot. They rose to the challenge with an assured performance leading to a comfortable 2-0 win over Walshaw B+W. Thomas scored both goals.

The semi-final was a tense affair against Barr Hill Diamonds. An Alfie thunderbolt gave Pennine an early lead. Barr Hill fought back and leveled with a well taken free-kick. A game of few chances ended 1-1 and it was the lottery of penalties. Bradley in the Pennine goal produced three stunning saves and with Brad, Alfie and Brodie netting their spot kicks, Pennine were in the final.

The game everyone had been waiting for saw Pennine Black versus Todmorden Thundercats in the final of the Radcliffe Borough tournament. Things did not start according to plan for Pennine as Todmorden stormed into an early lead. Pennine came roaring back with Thomas leveling with a well taken goal before Brad fired in a long range effort to make it 2-1. Todmorden scored next to make it 2-2. This served to galvanise Pennine who then produced their best spell of the tournament to run out 4-2 winners, with an angled shot from Brad and then Logan putting the icing on the cake with a powerful drive.

Wild scenes followed at the final whistle as the players, management, parents and supporters celebrated the win on the Stainton Park pitch. The boys held the trophy aloft to the sound of Queen's “We Are The Champions” before a chase and pile-on with manager Gary Chant.

Manager Gary Chant said: “It was a fantastic day, in glorious sunshine, with the perfect outcome.

"The most pleasing thing was that every single boy contributed to the success. Bradley was safe hands as usual in goal and his performance in the penalty shoot-out was breathtaking. Alfie and Brodie were rocks at the back, never giving the opposition a sniff, breaking up play with ferocious tackles and launching attacks with pinpoint passing. Thomas and Lucas were the creative force, constantly putting the opposition on the back foot with their skilful interplay, quick feet and passing ability, also chipping in with some crucial goals. Brad and Logan were a defender's nightmare, with power, pace, skill and finishing they terrified the opposition time and time again and left them chasing shadows.

"An all round fantastic team performance from a fantastic team.”