No Hospital Cup joy for Daisy Hill

Daisy Hill’s interest in the Bolton Hospital Cup is over for another year after they lost in a penalty shoot out at Turton on Tuesday evening.

In a feisty game that saw two players on both sides sent off, Turton’s Kieran Sisson put the home side ahead early in the second half, but Connor Hughes levelled for Daisy Hill on the stroke of full time.

However, it was the home side who emerged victorious from the resulting penalty shoot out, which ended 7-6 after going to sudden death.

In a first half of few clear cut opportunities, an Adam Farrell shot across the face of goal, and at the other end a Kieran Sisson shot that was saved by Daisy Hill keeper Connor Stone were the main highlights until Stone was called on to make a great double save just before half time.

After diving full length to beat away a fiercely driven shot from Scott Fitzsimons, Stone quickly recovered to make another fine stop from the follow up header to keep the scoresheet blank at half time.

But less than a minute after the restart, Turton broke the deadlock when Scott Fitzsimons raced down the right wing and fired in a low cross that was tucked under Stone by Kieran Sisson.

Midway through the second half, Daisy thought they had equalised when Jordan Cover took advantage of a mix up in the Turton defence to roll the ball in to an empty net, but the gaol was ruled out on the advice of the assistant referee.

But a minute from time, Daisy’s Connor Hughes was upended on the edge of the penalty area and from the free kick, Hughes curled a delightful shot over the defensive wall and just inside the near post to bring his side level.

Moments later the final whistle sounded to take the tie to penalties, and it was Turton who eventually emerged victorious, winning 7-6 after the shoot-out moved to sudden death.