Clark: 'It could have been 5-5 - it was brilliant'

Slyne lost 4-3 on penalties to Manchester League side Walshaw Sports after a 2-2 draw in normal time – a match which saw three red cards, nine yellows and a defender saving a spot kick as an emergency goalkeeper.

The dramatic afternoon ended Slyne’s involvement in the Shield after they went all the way to the final last year, losing to fellow West Lancashire League side Fulwood Amateurs.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS - click here

The ex-Lancaster City man said: “That is up there with some of the craziest matches I have ever been involved in.

“At Lancaster we came from 2-0 down in the last 15 minutes to beat Farsley Celtic when both sides were in the top two in the Northern Premier League and that was in that bracket.

“It could have been 5-5. It had everything – it was brilliant. They’ve missed a penalty, both sides had a few one-on-ones, we missed a header from six yards at 2-2 in the last minute to win it. It was nuts.

“Walshaw are a good side and I have to give credit to them. It was a great battle.

“We’ve not lost because of the ref – it just added to what ended up being such a great game.”

Walshaw took the lead inside 10 minutes before being reduced to 10 men just before the break.

Slyne levelled it up on the hour through Dan Dixon before Walshaw restored their advantage from the spot on 67 minutes.

Slyne were then reduced to 10 men themselves when keeper Michael Donlon was red carded only for makeshift keeper, defender Conor Crossley who donned the gloves, to brilliantly save the resultant spot kick.

A member of Walshaw’s bench was sent off for foul and abusive language before Liam Cutts made it 2-2 for Clark’s side late on.

Slyne then missed a golden chance to win it at the death sending a header from close range over the bar before succumbing on penalties.

For Clark, it means his eyes turn to a Richardson Cup campaign – they face Kendal United on February 4 – and a possible late surge in the league.

They are 11 points behind leaders Burscough Richmond with 14 games to play.

“We’d need to put a hell of a run together, like Fulwood did last year, to catch those at the top,” he conceded.

“But let’s see where we get. We’ve an outside chance but I want to win the Richardson Cup. That’s my aim.

"As Tony Hesketh said in the first West Lancs podcast, we can beat anyone on our day.

"Win that and finish in the top three in the league is probably our target now.”