MELLOR Primary School proved they were ‘spot on’ after they were crowned Ribble Valley Primary School champions in a competiton that was dominated by the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
The newly-crowned champions beat St Marys Langho in the final in what, incredibly, was one of seven knockout matches decided by spot kicks.
Only one of the eight knockout matches was settled in normal time as three quarter finals, both semi finals and the final all going to the shoot-out.
Mellor were the only team to progress to the semi finals by the usual method, narrrowly beating Pendle 1-0.
But all of the other matches were cagey affairs to say the least with not a single goal scored in regular play.
St Leonards beat Sabden, Barrow got the better of Grindleton and St Marys Langho defeated St Leonards - all in spot kicks after each game finished 0-0.
The trend continued in the semi finals - all four teams producing exciting football but could not make the vital breakthrough - and once again both matches were settled by spot kicks.
So with what had gone on before, it was inevitable the final would go the same way and so it proved.
In what was a tense final, both teams had chances to win the game but, in the end, it would was decided by the dreaded penalty shootout which saw Mellor come out victorious with St Marys Langho taking second place.
For Mellor, it was sweet revenge as St Marys Langho had beaten them in their first group game of the day and it took victories over St Huberts and St Leonard’s Lango ‘B’ to book their place in the knockout stages.
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School was the venue for the year 5/6 event which was run by Hyndburn & Ribble Valley School Sports Partnership in conjuction with Accrington Stanley Community Rrust.
A total of 15 schools competed for the right to be crowned Ribble Valley Winners and to play the winners of the Hyndburn competition on the pitch at Accrington Stanley during half time of a home league 2 fixture.
Teams were split in to three groups of four and one group of three with the top two progressing through to the knockout stages.
The group stages were played out with some fantastic performances from everyone involved who tried their very best to make it through to the knockout stages.
In Group A, Sabden finished top with an unbeaten record of two wins and a draw to finish on seven points.
Grindleton were second with six points with two wins while Read St John were third and Bolton-by-Bowland were fourth.
Barrow were unbeaten to top Group B, winning two and drawing one, with St Leonard’s Langho ‘A’ second. Gisburn and Clitheroe St James both finished on four points and were only separated by goal difference.
St Marys Langho were the form team in the group stages, winning all three matches to top Group C. Eventually champions Mellor were runners-up with St Leonard’s Langho B third and St Huberts fourth.
And in Group D, Pendle took top spot with two wins while Edisford joined them in the knockouts but only after beating St Michael and St Johns on penalties - the first shoot-out of the day.
Gareth Martindale, assistant school games organiser, thanked Clitheroe Grammar School for the use of the facilities and providing the leaders who refereed the games.
And also Chris Mullen from Accrington Stanley Community Trust who helped run the event on the day.
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