IT’S been a remarkable few years for Rhoden Inn since joining the Blackburn Combination three seasons ago.

However, back-to-back promotions and a Cotton Cup success were eclipsed by a truly remarkable performance to dump holders Little Lever out of the LFA Amateur Cup.

The Bolton side turned up late at Pleasington Playing Fields, probably expecting to turn over the Accrington pub team.

But Little Lever were in for a big surprise as Rhoden Inn are no ordinary pub team.

They got at the Lancashire Amateur League side right from the off and first half goals by Lance Hamer and Nigel Sullivan gave Rhoden a richly deserved 2-0 lead at the break.

Even when keeper Mark Vick gifted Little Lever a goal early in the second half, spilling Ben Wells’ speculative shot, Rhoden showed great character to hold firm — with Jason Ashworth and Chris Furness outstanding in the heart of defence.

While Furness spent much of the second half helping to keep Little Lever at bay, he got two ‘assists’ in the first period.

It was his blasted free kick which resulted in Hamer opening the scoring then he picked out Matthew Aspin with a great pass who crossed for Sullivan to fire home.

Rhoden started on the offensive with a number of raids down the right, one resulting in the lively Lee Myerscough clipping the outside of the post.

And they made their early pressure count when they were awarded a soft free kick on the edge of the area.

A fierce Furness set piece deflected off the Little Lever wall and Hamer pounced on the loose ball to steer his shot home from close range.

Rhoden nearly doubled their lead when Myerscough flashed one shot across goal after being put through by a superb defence splitting ball from Sullivan. The impressive Luke Hamer and Myerscough then combined to release Matthew Aspin whose shot looped off the advancing keeper and on to the crossbar.

Little Lever’s attack had to feed off scraps but John Done should have done better when he twice cleared the bar with two good chances.

Rhoden then went 2-0 up when Furness controlled a clearance on his chest strode and played a clever diagonal ball to Aspin which turned the Little Lever the defence. And Aspin made the most of it, dragging the ball back from the by-line for strike partner Sullivan to turn home.

But the holders were still a threat. Ben Wells skipped around keeper Vick but saw his effort cleared off the line.

The nervy Vick then had Jordan Allen to thank for another goal-line clearance after the keeper’s ‘fresh air’ kick. After the break, Little Lever, playing with the wind and more purpose, were at last beginning to cause a threat.

However, there seemed to be little danger when Wells tried his luck from range only for Vick to fumble and spill the ball over the line.

Little Lever sensed the comeback was on but this was where Furness and Ashworth came in to their own.

And in fairness to Vick, he didn’t hide and went some way to making up for his howler with a number of important saves, most notably with his legs to foil substitute Reece Rowinski. Wells was becoming more of a threat and forced a good save out of Vick then saw his attempted chip bounce just the wrong side of the goal.

But it wasn’t all back to the walls stuff for Rhoden who had chances to put the came beyond Little Lever.

Sub Mark Carter had one effort blocked for a corner, which he took and Lance Hamer headed over.

Carter then weaved his way in to the area to cross for Luke Hamer whose underhit shot was cleared off the line.

While there was one goal in it, it was always going to be nervy but Rhoden held firm for a famous victory.