Louth make the final after penalty drama

LOUTH Town made it through to the final of the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Northern Counties East League side Bottesford Town at Park Avenue.

Louth's hero was goalkeeper Craig Wherry who made two fantastic saves in the shoot-out, which the White Wolves won 4-2.

The scores were tied at 1-1 after extra time.

The game started cagily and the early exchanges were spent mainly in the middle third.

It was seven minutes before either side created an opportunity. Bottesford's Craig Bridge saw his shot well-blocked by home skipper Jordan Walden, before Bridge hit the rebound well over the bar.

Jamie Rowbotham and Kurt Crossley troubled the Bottesford defence with their pace and it was Rowbotham who gave Louth the lead after 13 minutes.

Carl Darbyshire woefully under-hit his attempted back-pass, allowing Rowbotham to nip in and round goalkeeper Adam Nicholson before tapping the ball into the empty net.

Darbyshire was at fault again just moments later when he missed the ball to let in Rowbotham and, although the striker was fouled as he went through, the advantage was played as the ball fell to Crossley, but his shot was well-saved.

The game started to swing from end to end.

Carl Martin's lobbed pass nearly saw Rowbotham through on goal again, while Mark Wood's 20-yard free-kick just missed the head of Ben Davison.

At the other end, Bottesford threatened when James Leech's superb long cross was just cleared by Jason Callaby, as Craig Mitchell looked to get on the end of it.

Bottesford went close again after 35 minutes when Tim Lowe's long free-kick whistled just wide.

A bizarre incident after 38 minutes denied Town a second goal. A bad defensive header from Bottesford captain Philip Rowland allowed Rowbotham to again go past goalkeeper Nicholson, but as the ball rolled towards the empty net, Crossley intervened and tapped it over the line – and was adjudged to be off-side. Had he not touched it, the goal would have stood.

Town were nearly made to pay for this five minutes later as striker Paul Chatterton's spectacular volley hit the bar.

After the break, Bottesford should have equalised when Lowe found himself unmarked in the area, but sliced wide.

The visitors were awarded a debatable penalty for handball against Jason Callaby, leaving the Louth players bemused.

Chatterton made the most of this opportunity as he sent Wherry the wrong way.

With the game heading towards extra-time, a Rowbotham effort was well-saved.

The same player then had a penalty appeal turned down.

Bottesford started extra-time brightly and Bridge shot wide after catching Carl Martin in possession.

Lowe threatened again as he broke into the box only to be denied by a superb sliding tackle from Walden.

Town created a good opportunity when Crossley set up Rowbotham – but the shot from the forward was tame and easily saved.

Both sides had chances in the second period of extra-time, but neither could snatch the winner.

Wherry made two magnificent saves in the shoot-out for Town, while Jordan Walden, Carl Martin, Mike Armstrong and Sam Smith all converted their kicks to give Town a 4-2 win on penalties.

Having already booked their place in two cup finals, Town have a chance to make progress in another cup today when Thoresby Colliery are the visitors to Park Avenue for the Challenge Cup quarter-final.