Danny Pilkington was spot on as St Bedes beat QEGS to win the Lancashire Schools Cup final in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

The Blackburn Rovers Academy player held his nerve to fire home the decisive spot kick in a thrilling cup final that went all the way to the wire.

Pilkington had earlier given St Bedes the lead before Elliot Breaks cancelled out his opener to take the pulsating clash in to extra time and the drama of the shoot-out.

Rob Turner, who terrorised the Saints defence throughout normal and extra time, fired home the first penalty before Michael Aspin responded for St Bedes. Dean Stott, the best defender on the pitch, slotted home a second for QEGS before Shaun Cook had his penalty saved by Darren Thornton.

QEGS couldn't take advantage though when Breaks fired over the bar before Ben Rebello put the Saints back on level terms.

Duncan Burns and Craig Yates made no mistakes with their penalties before Saints keeper Curtis Pearce crucially pushed Sam Houghton's effort on to a post. That left Pilkington to win the cup with Saints last penalty and he made no mistake.

It was a dramatic end to a thrilling encounter from two teams have a habit of producing real cup crackers.

And this was no exception.

It was a rematch of last year's Blackburn and Darwen Schools Cup final that QEGS won 3-2.

But this time the Saints enjoyed sweet revenge.

The Saints, who won this competition in its seven-a-side format last year, took an early lead when Jamie Alderson-Perkins whipped in a cross that Mark Pickup could only head in to the path of Pilkington who fired the ball home.

QEGS responded with the dangerous Turner fired across the face of the goal. The towering Turner, who was a constant cause for concern in the Saints defence, played his part in the equaliser.

The QEGS skipper turned brilliantly on the edge of the area and although Pearce did well to save his low shot, Breaks was on hand to fire home the loose ball from six yards.

QEGS enjoyed a good spell immediately after the leveller and Turner broke free from the halfway line but Pearce was out bravely to save at his feet.

But St Bedes showed their attacking prowess when Pilkington released Alderson-Perkins but his was weak and Darren Thornton saved easily.

The game ebbed and flowed after the break as both sides looked for the all important second goal.

Turner and strike partner Andy Smith both went close for QEGS before Peter Matthews found Marcus Davies in a good position but the midfield man fired wide.

At the other end, Saints -- driven on by midfield men James Tyldesley and Michael Aspin -- caused problems of their own. Pilkington and Aspin both had late chances to win it but forced good saves out of Thornton.

Despite the game going in to extra time, it was still played at a frantic pass and QEGS enjoyed the lion's share of the play.

Turner was again the main threat and was denied a clear run at goal thanks to a wonderful tackle by Andrew Brown.

And the big striker went close with two late chances including an acrobatic overhead kick that wide. And so came the dramatic shoot-out.

A nail-biting end to a wonderful game of football. A Pilkington was the coolest player around!

ST BEDES: Curtis Pearce, Jake Stewart, Richard Jones, Andrew Brown, Marcus King, Shaun Cook, Michael Aspin, James Tyldesley, Jamie Alderson-Perkins, Danny Pilkington, Ben Rebello. Subs: Jake McKenzie, Craig Yates, Phil Jackson

QEGS: Darren Thornton, Daniel Brown, Duncan Burns, Mark Pickup, Dean Stott, Peter Matthews, Elliot Breaks, Sam Houghton, Marcus Davies, Rob Turner, Andy Smith. Subs: James Wadsworth, Sam Jadav, Josh Beckett