UCLan men scored a golden goal winner after coming from 3-0 down to beat MMU Cheshire 5-4 and set up a final clash against Newcastle University.
The students will travel to York to face the North East side after a gripping semi-final encounter at UCLan sports arena that saw Tom Kendall grab the winner just minutes into extra-time.
It didn't all go UCLan's way however and the Lancashire side were forced to come from behind when they found themselves 3-0 down inside the opening 20 minutes.
With the rain pouring down it looked like it was going to be a miserable day for the home side, who have scored a total of 37 goals so far in the cup and conceded just seven.
But captain Roy Dutoy produced a great piece of individual skill with ten minutes remaining of the first half. The 22-year-old rounded three defenders in the D’ before being upended by a fourth to win a penalty flick.
The responsibility to convert from the spot fell to forward Will Lasey, who has 22 goals in all competitions this year, and he didn’t disappoint lifting the ball into the roof of the net.
UCLan now had the momentum and crucially pulled another goal back just before the break through Mike Holmes, after a nicely worked short corner routine. Dutoy slipped the ball to Holmes on top of the D and with a firm push he slammed the ball past the rooted goalkeeper.
The game was back on and the fans were getting behind the home side but after a strong second half start from UCLan it was the away side that extended their lead. MMU Cheshire midfielder Dave Flanagan drove into the D before playing in Ross Green who scored past Adam Dixon in the UCLan goal with 45 minutes played.
But with 20 minutes remaining UCLan didn’t give up and head-coach Luke Wilson made a decision to change tactics. He switched left half Richard Wood into midfield with Danny Large stepping into his position at the back. A knee injury to Preet Rayat forced Sam Ross into midfield while Dutoy was pushed further forward to play alongside Lacey.
The move paid off as UCLan dominated their opponents and the revival began when the impressive Dutoy found himself free in the D’ and unleashed a stunning reverse stick effort which flew into the back of the net.
A succession of short corners, one of which saw defender Kalum Furgus in the sin-bin for barging Lacey, resulted in UCLan drawing level with just five minutes left.
Lacey received the ball at the top of the D’ and drag flicked straight between the keeper’s legs to set up a tense and nervy remaining few minutes, where both teams seemed to settle for the draw and head into golden goal extra-time.
After a highly paced and hardly fought 70 minutes, extra time was not what the players wanted. Despite coming from behind Wilson told his men that the comeback was irrelevant but to continue playing how they ended the game.
The formation was kept the same and after Jason Chan had dealt with a routine aerial, UCLan had found the winner with their first attack of extra time.
Dutoy smashed a ball in from the right which was stopped by defender Jake Metcalfe but the MMU Cheshire captain played the ball straight to Sam Ross with his clearance. Ross then found Kendall on the back post whose diving deflection was worthy of winning any game and sent UCLan into ecstasy.
UCLan will now travel to a neutral venue in York to face Newcastle University on Wednesday 23rd March for a chance of lifting the North Conference Cup.
The students will travel to York to face the North East side after a gripping semi-final encounter at UCLan sports arena that saw Tom Kendall grab the winner just minutes into extra-time.
It didn't all go UCLan's way however and the Lancashire side were forced to come from behind when they found themselves 3-0 down inside the opening 20 minutes.
With the rain pouring down it looked like it was going to be a miserable day for the home side, who have scored a total of 37 goals so far in the cup and conceded just seven.
But captain Roy Dutoy produced a great piece of individual skill with ten minutes remaining of the first half. The 22-year-old rounded three defenders in the D’ before being upended by a fourth to win a penalty flick.
The responsibility to convert from the spot fell to forward Will Lasey, who has 22 goals in all competitions this year, and he didn’t disappoint lifting the ball into the roof of the net.
UCLan now had the momentum and crucially pulled another goal back just before the break through Mike Holmes, after a nicely worked short corner routine. Dutoy slipped the ball to Holmes on top of the D and with a firm push he slammed the ball past the rooted goalkeeper.
The game was back on and the fans were getting behind the home side but after a strong second half start from UCLan it was the away side that extended their lead. MMU Cheshire midfielder Dave Flanagan drove into the D before playing in Ross Green who scored past Adam Dixon in the UCLan goal with 45 minutes played.
But with 20 minutes remaining UCLan didn’t give up and head-coach Luke Wilson made a decision to change tactics. He switched left half Richard Wood into midfield with Danny Large stepping into his position at the back. A knee injury to Preet Rayat forced Sam Ross into midfield while Dutoy was pushed further forward to play alongside Lacey.
The move paid off as UCLan dominated their opponents and the revival began when the impressive Dutoy found himself free in the D’ and unleashed a stunning reverse stick effort which flew into the back of the net.
A succession of short corners, one of which saw defender Kalum Furgus in the sin-bin for barging Lacey, resulted in UCLan drawing level with just five minutes left.
Lacey received the ball at the top of the D’ and drag flicked straight between the keeper’s legs to set up a tense and nervy remaining few minutes, where both teams seemed to settle for the draw and head into golden goal extra-time.
After a highly paced and hardly fought 70 minutes, extra time was not what the players wanted. Despite coming from behind Wilson told his men that the comeback was irrelevant but to continue playing how they ended the game.
The formation was kept the same and after Jason Chan had dealt with a routine aerial, UCLan had found the winner with their first attack of extra time.
Dutoy smashed a ball in from the right which was stopped by defender Jake Metcalfe but the MMU Cheshire captain played the ball straight to Sam Ross with his clearance. Ross then found Kendall on the back post whose diving deflection was worthy of winning any game and sent UCLan into ecstasy.
UCLan will now travel to a neutral venue in York to face Newcastle University on Wednesday 23rd March for a chance of lifting the North Conference Cup.
Photo: (from top left, clockwise) Tom Dutoy, Preet Rayat, Richard Wood, Danny Large, Adam Dixon, Liam Sharp, Jason Chan, Daniel Jones, Luke Wilson (coach), Will Lasey, Sam Ross, John Edwards, Tom Kendall and Sam Goudie.
