Stanley youth lose on pens

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Carlisle Utd kids win FA Youth Cup penalty shoot-out

By Jon Colman
Last updated at 12:13, Tuesday, 10 November 2009

Carlisle United’s kids scraped into the second round of the FA Youth Cup last night after a marathon 9-8 penalties win over Accrington Stanley.
Goalkeeper Jon Ball was the hero for Eric Kinder’s young Blues, saving three Stanley spot-kicks and then converting the winning penalty after every outfield player had already stepped up.
Ball was only playing because first-choice keeper Mark Gillespie was ill, but the 16-year-old kept his nerve in the dramatic shootout.
Kinder admitted he was a relieved man after his team had toiled to a 1-1 draw at Brunton Park, with Ryan Bowman’s 62nd minute penalty being cancelled out by Brian McGrady’s header five minutes from time.
“I’m delighted with the result but I think we were very fortunate to go through,” said the coach.
“We stuck at it and showed a bit of resilience, but really we got away with it.”
Ball made a superb save from Jon Evans in the second minute to keep the gutsy visitors at bay, while Mani Richardson hit the post in the early stages for United.
Top scorer Bowman twice went close before the break and finally took his chance from the spot after Richardson was upended in the box – a decision hotly disputed by the Stanley players.
The Lancashire outfit came back at Carlisle and finally got their deserved leveller when McGrady nodded home a late corner.
Extra-time brought no further goals, although United sub James Reid was narrowly off-target while Stanley hit the woodwork themselves in the closing stages before the Blues clinched it on penalties, Ball eventually saving from his opposite number Josh Molloy before netting the decisive kick.
United: Ball, Wood, Swinglehurst, Richards-Everton, Cleary, Law, Towler (Reid 90), McKenna, Osmond (O’Brien 85 (Cahill 90)), Bowman, Richardson.