Bentham 3, Rimington 6
Rimington brought the curtain down on the local season when they completed a remarkable treble with their victory over a gallant Bentham side last Friday night on a perfect Rolls FC pitch in the Blue Fin Insurance Services Craven Challenge Cup final.
The victors have now won the event eight times since the turn of the century and, in addition, have won the East Lancashire League First Division title for the sixth successive season and the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup.
They follow Barnoldswick Town (1953) and Rolls Royce (1958) as the only Craven FA members to lift the trophy.
A sizeable crowd saw Bentham, with the help of a swirling wind, take the game to Rimington and it was no surprise when, under pressure, they conceded a penalty which Teddy Harrison duly dispatched.
The holders stormed back, however, and were level through Robert Lloyd before James Earnshaw’s pace took him clear to regain the lead before half-time.
Early in the second half, an upset was on the cards when an own goal further increased Bentham’s lead.
However, Rimington showed just what a good team they are and, prompted by man of the match Craig Sargeson, pulled a goal back through Glen Dinsdale.
Their more direct play with the wind in their favour put Bentham under pressure, and they could not deal with deep crosses, and leading scorer Lloyd took full advantage to complete a second half hat-trick, with Oli McClean completing the scoring in an amazing second-half turnaround.
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