Radcliffe through on spot-kicks after six-goal thriller

A fast-paced start to the encounter saw Radcliffe a goal down inside the opening minute, when a 30-yard caulker by the Bootle man nestle into the top corner.

Without reply, Radcliffe laid siege on the Bootle goal and a inch-perfect tip over the bar by Ryan Gordon from a Kieran Lomax effort was followed by two Radcliffe goals. Lomax’s calm slot under Gordon brought the game level before Oliver Murray’s finish into the corner after a failed Bootle clearance gave the visitors the lead.

Connor Cook swiftly brought the ‘Bucks’ level after skilfully lobbing over Bradley Sullivan to bring a thrilling start for the crowd with four goals in ten minutes.

Ben Jones had two golden chances calved out in which he nearly regained the ‘Bucks’ lead. His first sight on target was Jones clipping the outside of the post after a long-ball had sent him on his way before his latter effort in the closing stages of the half brought Sullivan back into action, with Sullivan getting down low to parry away the strike.

Radcliffe’s first half danger looked to be in the form of Kieran Lomax. After his first goal he thought he had his second and Radcliffe’s third with him just getting caught offside orbiet a smart finish past Ryan Gordon and another effort of his flashed past the left post.

HT: Bootle 2-2 Radcliffe

Lomax nearly scored for his side again right at the start of the second half from guilt-edge range. A inswinging corner was misjudged by the running Lomax and his header went away from him.

Not long after Radcliffe almost went in front, Bootle did. Ben Jones’ third bite of the cherry on goal eventually payed off after a deflected free-kick wrong-footed Bradley Sullivan and it flew into the corner.

Jones almost made it four with a stinging shot on target testing Sullivan, but the Radcliffe keeper was equal to it - rushing out of his goal to win it.

Taylor Howarth’s teased the Bootle in the closing stages. Howarth long-ranged strike sparked Graham into life, with the ‘Bucks’ keeper tipping his effort round the post - but the resulting corner was cleared before Howarth struck late on with a strike squirming under Gordon to level procedures. Howarth almost caused late drama with a guilt-edged effort in the dying embers flying wide.

Penalties followed, with Radcliffe missing their first before Bootle missed two towards the end of the shootout - Scott Hough drew the final blow, scoring the winning spot-kick to send Radcliffe through to the next round.
FT: Bootle 3-3 Radcliffe (3-4 PENS)