Hindley Juniors 5 Barrow Celtic Juniors Comets 4

BARROW Celtic Comets’ bid for silverware ended in disappointment.

The Celts saw a 3-1 lead slip away as they lost the Women’s County League Cup Plate final 5-4 to Hindley Juniors.

The Comets took a healthy two-goal advantage into half-time at the County Ground, Leyland, but Hindley hit back to take the lead in the second half, and it looked all over at 5-3.

With seven minutes to go, Celtic scored again to set up a nervy finish, but Hindley were able to see out the end of the game to claim victory.

It was Rebecca Wilkinson who gave Celtic an early lead, showing skill with the ball at her feet by rounding Hindley keeper Laura Swindells and finishing.

Hindley’s Sally Worthington saw a shot go wide before Celtic keeper Antonia Lipscombe caught Jess Sargeson’s effort.

Lipscombe pulled off a superb save from Sargeson, but it was not long before Hindley made a breakthrough via Aimee Dalton. But Celtic dealt Hindley a hammer blow as Rebecca Smith unleashed an excellent strike from outside the box to reclaim their lead.

Shortly before half-time, Wilkinson bagged her second and Celtic’s third, finishing well after a great ball by Beth Lyndsay.

Hindley were going to need to come out all guns blazing after the interval – and they did so with a goal three minutes in.

Becky Grocott netted the goal with a simple finish from the edge of the box.

Hindley continued their offence on their opposition’s penalty area, and it paid off as minutes after the hour-mark they were level.

A shot deflected off Sargeson and wrong-footed Lipscombe for the equaliser.

Five minutes later, Hindley took the lead for the first time in the game, as Allissa Green finished well.

Grocott then made it five with a great strike from outside the area.

Celtic were not done yet, however, and set up a nervous finish as Smith scored again.

But Hindley held on as they replicated the exact result from their league encounter with Barrow Celtic and lifted the Plate to mark an entertaining and exciting advert for women’s football.