SKELMERSDALE 1 BACUP 1 (aet)

BACUP were left to rue a late, injury-time penalty miss as Skelmersdale forced a replay in the Marsden Lancashire Challenge tie.

Bacup's David Esdale won a penalty with two minutes of extra time to go but captain Damien Moran smashed the spot kick against the post.

NWCFL Second Division side Bacup had gone ahead through Stuart Farnell on 41 minutes before John Carroll equalised with 20 minutes remaining.

The visitors restricted First Division Skelmersdale to just one chance in the first half but Bacup keeper Darren Sloane made himself big to stop the shot from Leadbetter.

Bacup played the last five minutes of the first half without centre half Stuart Walters, who was being treated after a clash of heads. He eventually had to come off to be replaced by Mark Hall.

Skelmersdale enjoyed their best spell of the game just after the break and although Bacup regained control, Skelmersdale equalised on 75 minutes.

Bacup controlled both periods of extra time and looked the fitter of the two sides.

They looked to have got their reward with just minutes to go, when David Esdale was fouled in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Moran blasted the kick against the post and Paul Waine failed with the rebound.

The replay was scheduled for next Tuesday but it was undecided whether it would be played at Skelmersdale or Bacup.