JWright

Last updated at 00:00, Friday, 23 November 2007

WORKINGTON’S Stainburn School are through to the final of the County Schools U16 Cup.

They’ll take on St Aidan’s, of Carlisle, in the final on a date and at a venue yet to be decided.

Stainburn reached the final with a gripping 4-3 semi-final win over Whitehaven School at Workington Reds’ Borough Park on Tuesday.

The Workington side couldn’t have asked for a better start - they scored in the first minute when Whitehaven didn’t clear a left wing corner and mid-fielder Steve Hampton drove in the opening goal through a crowd of players.

Hampton, busy and energetic throughout, was to emerge as Stainburn’s man of the match in a pulsating game.

Stainburn doubled their lead on 19 minutes when Nick Holden beat the Whitehaven keeper Alex Jones with a dipping shot from 30 yards.

Whitehaven came back well, however, and some neat inter-passing between Shane Rooney and Tom Branthwaite ended with Rhys Todd slipping home their opening goal.

Only two fine saves by their outstanding keeper Smith prevented Whitehaven from conceding again before half-time.

First he went down bravely at the feet of Greg Mitchell to block his clear run in on goal and then he went full length to acrobatically turn away a shot from Guy Richardson.

But in a frantic end to the half Whitehaven were denied an equaliser when Sam Williamson headed a cross from Todd off the line.

Stainburn regained their two-goal advantage on 57 minutes after Mitchell had been tripped in the area and Bryan Hodgson sent Smith the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Two minutes later, however, Whitehaven were back in the game when defender Ryan Little headed home a pinpoint free-kick from Scott McCraig.

Stainburn thought they had wrapped up the game on 68 minutes when Hodgson did well to win a tackle in midfield before striding forward to release Mitchell. He raced round Smith before drilling the ball into the unguarded net.

Still Whitehaven wouldn’t lie down and they scored a third six minutes from time to set up a thrilling finish.

First published at 18:13, Thursday, 24 January 2008
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk