LOCAL bragging rights went to Blackrod Town, who won the deciding ‘rubber match’ at home to Horwich St Mary’s Victoria on Saturday.

With a win apiece in this season’s two league games the familiar rivals met for a much-anticipated tie in the Lancashire Amateur League’s First XI Cup and, after falling behind, it was Blackrod who progressed at the visitors’ expense.

Jordan Coop had fired Horwich ahead in style, with a cracking 25-yard half-volley but Sammy Cardwell equalised before the break with an equally eye-catching goal.

Receiving the ball with his back to goal, he hooked a shot that cleared the keeper but looped and dropped underneath the crossbar.

Blackrod’s winning goal was far less spectacular but no one at the club was complaining as Jake Ross pounced on a loose ball 12 yards from goal to prod home the winner to set up a match against Radcliffe Juniors in the next round.

“Jake’s a good winger and he hasn’t scored as many as he would have liked and it’s an area he needs to improve on but he tucked that one away nicely,” said Blackrod boss Jack Paton. “There is a bit of rivalry between the two sides, we know a lot of their lads and we’ve got a couple at the club who were there last season, so the lads had been well up for it once the draw was made.

“We were on a team night out at a charity boxing event when the draw came through – we were on one win each so we were really looking forward to the rubber match.

“We still have a lot to play for, a big one coming up at home to Old Bolts this week, so there’s no let-up but we’re confident.”

Old Boltonians were also victorious in their First XI Cup tie, thumping Radcliffe St Mary’s 12-1.

Matt McLellan and Leon Farrimond each scored hat-tricks. Gary Peden, David Warburton, Lee Worswick, Nick Holt, Tom Allcroft and Rob Taylor all grabbed a goal for Steve Eccleshare’s dominant Bolts.

Also into the next round of the cup are Little Lever, 5-2 winners at home to Bolton Nomads, and Division One side Bolton Wyresdale, who saw off visitors Littleborough 2-1.