Sacred Heart.......................1
Blackhurst Budd................3
The Pendle Charity League’s Sacred Heart met Blackhurst Budd, the runner-up in last season’s Lancashire Sunday Trophy, in the third round of the competition, in the only game that survived the weather at the weekend.
Blackhurst Budd, who are based in St Anne’s, are the runaway leaders of the G Casino Blackpool and Fylde Sunday Football Alliance, and started very strongly, striking the foot of the post in their first attack, and forcing a brilliant save from Heart’s goalkeeper Ian Marsden following a deflected shot from a free kick.
The away side took the lead in the 21st minute with a close-range header from Richard Seear following a well-taken corner.
Sacred Heart fought back well and equalised with a brilliant turn and volley from club captain Ben Whitaker following a header from Matt Aspinall.
Hearts then started to dominate the game, and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty kick after Shaun Garvey appeared to be tripped in the area.
And Chris Whiteoak’s close ranged shot was blocked on the line as the home side enjoyed a good spell of pressure.
The St Anne’s outfit, however, regained the lead 12 minutes from full time following an excellent diving header from Barney Rogan, and Nick Greenall completed the scoring in the last minute with an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net as Hearts pushed for an equaliser.
l Sunday’s XLCR Pendle Charity League fixtures were all washed out.