Butterfly stings Trinity

Royal Butterfly 2 Trinity BL 1

MUHAMMED Ali once famously said that he floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.

While there was no floating from Royal Butterfly they just about had enough sting to deal a knockout blow -- and keep their league and cup double hopes alive.

Royal Butterfly, already crowned league champions, squeezed through to the final of the Harry Walsh Cup at the second time of asking.

And while the replay did not live up to the first epic encounter -- which went the full distance in a 3-3 draw -- both teams produced another fine contest.

Trinity were the first out of their corner and took the lead with a flowing defence-to-attack move.

Daniel Howard appeared to be in danger facing his own goal. But he turned neatly to feed Mark Butterworth who sprayed the ball out wide to Lee Bennett.

Bennett looked up and picked out Butterworth who had continued his run to plant a firm header past Hall.

They were almost 2-0 up when Bennett beat the offside trap and his attempted chip was palmed away instinctively by Hall.

However, after a wake-up call by the furious Hall, Butterfly fluttered their wings, remembered they were league champions and began to play football. Almost immediately live-wire striker John Hepple sprung into life and raced on to a through ball, waltzed around Trinity keeper Clifford Smith but the angle was too tight and he fired wide.

Hepple's pace took him clear of the back four again and this time he didn't miss when his clever flick caught Smith flat-footed to score. And the champions were soon in the lead through Nathan Barrass when he blasted a low ball across the box and Lee Wren dealt the body blow when he fired into the roof of the net.

Trinity showed, though, that the first semi-final was no fluke and it was only bad finishing that prevented them from going in level at the break.

First Sunter found himself clear through with Hall off his line but the chipped shot that everyone expected never materialised and the keeper had a let off.

However Sunter almost redeemed himself with a lovely ball to the far post which Butterworth side-footed narrowly wide.

After the break, the action ebbed and flowed between each goalmouth.

Trinity's captain Mark Grogan led by example and the rampaging full back pushed forward at every given opportunity -- and importantly brought the quiet Paul Fletcher into the game.

The two combined to set up Coates, whose flying scissor kick went just wide.

At the other end, Wren showed some good touches for a big striker to turn and get a shot in.

However it was Trinity who continued to create the better chances.

First Bennett should have done better when he was clean through but Hall was out again bravely and Coates chipped over with the goal at his mercy.

Then as time was ticking away Sunter went through and slid his shot wide when he should have scored. He then went on to miss another gilt-edged chance but shot straight at Hall from five yards.

Trinity's hard work was spoiled by substitute Paul Sunter who got himself sent off for a tussle with Dave Pickering.

As for Butterfly, they are now just one win away from being crowned the undisputed kings of the Burnley and District League.