Threlfall on the mark twice as Barnoldswick Town win at Bootle to reach Macron Cup final

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BARNOLDSWICK Town showed great character to clinch their place in the Macron Cup final.

Their 1-0 lead from the first leg was wiped out by a sixth-minute goal from Kieran Haligan.

When Steven Jones added a second goal just before the half-time it looked as if Bootle might repeat the 6-1 hammering they had inflicted on Town 48 hours earlier.

Danny Craig's men had other ideas and silenced the vociferous home crowd with a stunning second-half display.

Zack Dale levelled the aggregate scores after 67 minutes with a stunning volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Dale turned creator two minutes later when he crossed from the right and

Mark Threlfall got ahead of his marker to guide the ball into the top corner.

Bootle were stunned and in their efforts to try and salvage the game – they were now 3-2 down on aggregate – they gifted Barnoldswick a third goal.

Barnoldswick sealed their place in the final with a gift from the Bucks. Daniel Murphy’s back pass saw goalkeeper Ryan Jones come under pressure from Threlfall who dispossessed him before rolling the ball into the empty net.

Town will now meet either Chadderton or AFC Liverpool in the final at Fleetwood Town on May 16. Chadderton take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their semi-final which will be played at their ground on Thursday.