BARROW-BORN Wyll Stanway was the shoot-out hero as the Bluebirds won the 2024 Lancashire Senior Cup final.

The Barrow keeper made two penalty saves as the Cumbrians beat Burnley Under-23s 4-3 on spot-kicks at Holker Street.

The Bluebirds line-up had something of an unusual feel as first-team coach Jason Taylor, who took charge of the clash, fielded a side featuring a number of trialists alongside the likes of first-teamers such as Dom Telford, Chris Popov, and Rory Feely.

The hosts were quick out of the blocks and Telford went close with a long-range effort with just two minutes on the clock.

He fired in a low shot which was gathered by the Burnley keeper at the second time of asking.

There were chances for Popov to get his name on the scoresheet, but he was unable to find the net.

His best effort coming after Telford chipped a ball to the back post, but the angle proved too difficult for the Welshman to convert.

It was the visitors who drew first blood as Joe Westley put them in front on 35 minutes.

Westley was found by a slick pass from Joao Mendes, son of Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, and he made no mistake smashing the ball into the net to make it 1-0 on 35 minutes.

The Bluebirds had the chance to draw level before the break, but the trialist’s clever work came to nought as his curling attempt was tipped on to the post and out for a corner.

After the break chances were at a premium for both sides.

But with the clock running down Popov was tripped in the Burnley area and the referee pointed to the spot.

Popov dusted himself down to step up to the spot and converted to draw matters level on 83 minutes.

Both sides had chances to win it at the death.

The Bluebirds’ opportunity came as one of the Trialists saw his low shot blocked superbly by a Burnley defender, with the keeper stranded.

 While Stanway was at the ready to tip Ryan Tioffo’s shot wide as the visitors looked to score on the counter-attack.

With honours even at the final whistle, that meant the final would be decided on the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

The Bluebirds elected to go first, and got off to a good start as Charlie Weston calmly slotted home.

However, it was soon level once again as Joe Bauress converted  his spot-kick for the Clarets.

 

Having already netted from the spot in normal time, Popov stepped up again to fire high into the top right corner to put the hosts back in front.

Up stepped Stanway for the first of his two penalty saves as he went the right way to deny Tom Tweedy.

Barrow briefly extended their lead as one of the trialists scored from the spot.

But Burnley quickly reduced the arrears as Charlie Veevers converted his effort.

Defender Mazeed Ogungbo had the chance to win it for the Cumbrians, but his effort crashed against the crossbar.

Burnley took their chance to get back on level terms as Tioffo scored.

Feely, who was captaining the Barrow side then stepped up to fire a cool penalty into the bottom right corner.

 And Stanway made sure the spoils were staying in Cumbria with the second of his penalty saves securing a 4-3 victory.

Barrow XI: Stanway, Mazeed, Trialist A, Trialist B, Trialist C, Trialist D, Telford (Trialist E 61’), Popov, Feely ©, Tiensia, Weston.