Henleys beat ten-man Dale to retain the cup

HAMBLETON LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
HENLEYS ATHLETIC 4 KILDALE 0
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium

Highlights of this match are available here

HENLEYS ATHLETIC retained the League Challenge Cup on Thursday evening as a brace from Mark Raw, a  penalty from Josh Knox and a goal from Andrew Shepherd saw off the challenge of ten-man Kildale.

Raw had already headed Bedale-based Henleys into an early lead when Kildale defender John Shelton was shown a straight red card by referee Stephen Foster for a handball on the line. And when Knox slotted home the resulting penalty there was only going to be one winner.

Raw grabbed his second just before the break while Shepherd completed the scoring with a close range header three minutes into the second half.

Henleys manager Dean Wilkinson was delighted with the professionalism his side showed to retain the cup. He said: "I'm over the moon, can't believe it. The boys put in a performance. Obviously the sending off  helped us a lot but we still stayed professional and we won 4-0.

"[Kildale] defended well. We were finding it hard to break them down a bit, we had a few chances, but the red card; he had to go really and the extra man told in the end.

"The game died [after we got the fourth goal] but we stayed comfortable, stayed professional and did the job."

Henleys may only have reached the final by default after their semi-final conquerors Northallerton Police were thrown out of the competition for fielding an illegible player, but they made the most of that reprieve with a dominant display.

The holders looked determined to retain the cup and it took them just six minutes to take the lead. Mark Hemingway clipped in a free kick from the right and when the Kildale defence were unable to clear their lines, Raw nodded home from six yards.

Kildale, who had lost 10-0 to Henleys earlier in the season, were struggling to find any rhythm to their play in the early exchanges, and with Callum Fletcher running riot down the right, a second Henleys goal looked inevitable.

And it duly arrived just past the half-hour. A header from Hemingway struck the arm of defender Shelton on the post and referee Foster had no choice other than to award a penalty and produce a red card for the unfortunate Kildale man. Knox then extracted further punishment with a coolly dispatched spot-kick.

The cup was only heading one way now and Henleys sealed it with further goals either side of the break. Raw added his second two minutes before the interval after clever play down the right from Fletcher, before Shepherd made it 4-0 in the 48th minute; heading home a right wing cross from Raw.

It would have been easy for the Kildale heads to drop after that but it was to their credit that they did not allow that to happen. Driven on by substitute Thomas Nichols they took the game to Henleys and perhaps deserved at least a goal for their endeavours.

But the holders were not prepared to give them even a consolation and Henleys had several chances to increase their lead in the closing stages. Hemingway, in particular, should have hit the target with two late efforts but any further goals would have been harsh on Kildale, who were left to reflect on what might have been.

Henleys man of the match Fletcher said: "I'm very pleased. The lads worked hard. It was a physical game, but football came out on top, I suppose.

"It was a shame about their red card but I still think we dominated the possession and scored a few goals. We have played well this season, we worked hard throughout the whole 90 minutes and got what we deserved."

No one can argue with that.



For the victors the spoils. Henleys pose with the cup after the 4-0 victory over Kildale

HENLEYS ATHLETIC - Elsworth, Mills, Hemingway, Tasker, Palmer, Fletcher, Knox, Raw, Shepherd, Allan, Dodsworth. SUBS - Stones, Taylor, Nolan, Smith, Croft.

KILDALE - Shelton (H), Pennock, Dodds, Sonley, Marsey, Stephenson, Atkinson, Grainge (A), Rose, Shelton (J)), Grainge (J). SUBS - Nichols, Gill, Lawson, Lewis.

REFEREE - S. Foster.

FA Cup success just the start for Arsenal?

THE FA Cup is in the bag, right? 3-0 against a team whose two best players cannot play in next month's final. They may as well just give us the trophy now.

But of course football does not work like that. And it this is Arsenal after all. So while we happily took the three points that keep us in pole position to take 4th place, we are realistic enough to know it will be a completely different game at Wembley in May.

Hull showed enough in the opening 20 minutes to suggest they can cause us some problems in the final. Indeed, had Jake Livermore's effort not come back off the inside of the post soon after Aaron Ramsey had put us in front, it may well have been a tricky afternoon on Humberside.

It is also unlikely that Steve Bruce will allow his side to surrender as meekly as they did in the second half. Lukas Podolski's goal just before the break proved vital and with Premier League safety virtually secured, Hull seemed happy to accept their fate.

Yes, Arsenal played well. As well as we have done away from home from months. The return of Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey gave us back much of the attacking thrust that has been missing in recent weeks. But lets not kid ourselves. We will face a far sterner test at Wembley. Remember in 2003 when we thrashed Southampton 6-1 at Highbury a couple of weeks before we met them in the final? We only scrapped to a 1-0 win at the Millennium Stadium.

And lets not forget that winning that first trophy is always the hardest. Having gone almost nine years without one, the pressure is really on now. And we have a habit of failing in finals where we are overwhelming favourites. Ipswich in 1978, West Ham in 1980, Luton in 1988 and Birmingham in 2011.

In fact the final on May 17 could be a pivotal moment in the future success of the club. Win, and it could be the start of the period of success. As Manchester City showed in 2011, an FA Cup win can open the way for a Premier League title the following year.

Arsenal has shown this season that we are not far away. With everyone fit we have a squad capable of challenging for the title, and two or three good additions this summer, plus the return of Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere, could see us over the line next year.

Winning that first trophy could be the difference. Top level sport is 75% in the mind. You have to believe you are a winner. In a team sport, it takes most of the individuals to believe it. The only way that can truly happen is by winning things. You have seen in recent weeks, this Arsenal team do not quite have that belief yet.

So the final in four weeks time is not just about ending the much-talked about nine-year trophy drought. The success, or otherwise, of the next few seasons could depend on it.

So I expect a difficult game. Cup finals are traditionally like that. The first goal may well prove decisive. If we get it, I believe the trophy drought will be finally over and the good times could be about to return.

At Wembley in 1987 when we ended an eight-year drought by winning the Littlewoods Cup, we sang 'Arsenal are back.' And we were. Two league titles and three more cups soon followed. This year's FA Cup final could prove to be another watershed.

As someone once said, to dare is to do.

50 saves of Gray - goalkeeper Chris wins the cup for Bar

SCORPION CUP FINAL
BROMPTON FC 0 BAR ONE 0 (aet)
(Bar One won 4-3 on penalties)
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium

Highlights of this match can be viewed here

GOALKEEPER Chris Gray was the hero for Bar One on Thursday evening as they won the Scorpion Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out success against Division Three champions Brompton FC.

After 120 minutes of tense action at the Calvert Stadium there was nothing to choose between the sides that had finished first and second in the league. But after Gray saved James Horsfield's sudden-death penalty, the goalkeeper then beat Brompton counterpart Hayden Miles to give Bar One the cup.

On his penalty shoot-out heroics, a delighted Gray said: "I am absolutely ecstatic. I didn't know where it went actually. I saved it with my feet and looked behind me. I actually thought Brompton had scored as I heard everyone cheering but I was well happy it went wide."

Brompton nearly got off to the perfect start when Steve Pratt headed over from close range after Gray had kept out a 2nd minute free kick from Horsfield, but Bar were the better side in the first half. They dominated for long periods and won a succession of corners, but the nearest they came to a breakthrough was a header from Dan Hill which came back off the post.

Brompton improved after the break and began to show the form that had seen them pip Bar to the title. But with Gray in imperious form, they were unable to find the goal they were looking for. Adam Wilson was twice denied by the Bar 'keeper before substitute James Marriott fired agonisingly wide of the far post.

With players from both sides suffering with cramp in extra time, the final became a war of attrition. Brompton probably had the better of it but after Gray kept out another effort from Marriott with his legs, a penalty shoot-out was required to decide the destiny of the cup.

Brompton had the early advantage when Ben Wood and Paul Humphreys both missed for Bar One while Pratt and Dave Clarkson put the champions 2-0 ahead. It would have been all over had Stu Dunn scored with Brompton's third kick, but he hit the post and Bar made the most of that reprieve as Hill and Richard Hammerton levelled it up.

Brompton led again with a confident kick from Ryan Wilson but Callum Sherridan made no mistake for Bar, so after five kicks each it was 3-3. But then came the dramatic conclusion. Gray saved Horsfield's effort with his legs before slamming home the winning penalty to give Bar the cup.

Winning manager Brett Adcock said: "When we were 2-0 down [in the shoot-out] I didn't think we stood a chance. But I can't take anything away from them. They were aching and playing through the pain barrier but I take my hat off to them. Brilliant!

"{Chris] has been saying for a couple of weeks that he wanted to take a penalty for us if it happened and he said he was brilliant at them, but we'd never seen him take one. Today he came good so its party time."

It proved to be a night of double celebration as Brompton were presented with the league championship trophy before Bar One collected the cup. These two sides can now look forward to a relaxing summer break before planning for a Division Two campaign next season.

BROMPTON FC - Miles, Clarkson, Toman (L), Pratt, Brennan, Horsfield, Wilson (A), Caisley, Johnston, Dunn, Toman (G). SUBS - Wilson (R), Marriott, Watson, Dawson, Jackson.

BAR ONE - Gray, Anderson, Adamson, Hammerton, Simpson, Carson, Humphreys, Sherridan, Manamley, Wood, Hill. SUBS - Thornborough, Harrison, Kenningley, Reynard, Rudd.

REFEREE - J. Havelock

ATTENDANCE: 336

Old guns back in the groove

ARSENAL 3 WEST HAM UNITED 1
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates

Lukas Podolski seals the points against West Ham

ARSENAL moved back into the top four last night as two goals from Lukas Podolski and a superb strike from Olivier Giroud saw off the challenge of West Ham United at the Emirates.

Without a league win for almost a month, a run which had seen Everton move ahead of them in the race for a Champions League place, the last thing Arsene Wenger's side needed was to go behind again.

But after Matt Jarvis headed the Hammers in front five minutes before the break, the finishing power of Podolski and Giroud finally gave Arsenal the points.

A delighted Wenger said: "The mental aspect of the team was tested but I felt we were disciplined, determined, played well and overall we had a very convincing win tonight.

"You could see that the fact we won on Saturday had an impact on the morale of the team, so hopefully we can keep that high now until the end of the season."

After the physical and mental strain of Saturday's penalty shoot success in the FA Cup, Wenger made five changes in a bid to freshen up his side.

So in came Wojczcesh Szcezsny, Laurent Koscielny, Kim Kallstrom, Tomas Rosicky and Giroud, with Thomas Veramelen moving to left back in absence of injured pair Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal. It was the oldest side Wenger had selected for a Premier League match in over 10 years.

But it appeared the rigours of Wembley had taken its toll in a first half performance devoid of energy and ideas.

Giroud did have a golden opportunity to give Arsenal the lead after half an hour. A lovely ball from the impressive Santi Cazorla sent the Frenchman clear, but he tried to finish with his favoured left foot instead of his right and it was a simple save for Adrian.

That looked even more costly when West Ham, still in need of the points themselves in their bid to avoid the drop, went in front five minutes before the break. Szcezsny did well initially to deny Antonio Nocherino but the ball fell invitingly for Jarvis to nod home from close range.

You could feel the tension all around the Emirates but Arsenal dug deep and pulled themselves level just before half time.

Again it was Cazorla at the heart of its creation with a neat ball through to Podolski in the inside left channel, and the German drilled a shot on the turn across the West Ham 'keeper into the far corner of the net. Crisis averted.

The mood was now very different as Arsenal began to find their old fluency in the second half, and they completed the turn around ten minutes after the restart.

West Ham thought they had cleared their lines following a Cazorla corner, but when Vermaelen recycled the ball back into the penalty area, Giroud controlled instantly with his left foot before drilling home with his right; a goal of the highest quality and a 20th of the season for the much-maligned Frenchman.

Olivier Giroud puts Arsenal ahead last night

Wenger's men could now relax and it was simply a case of how many more they might get. A Podolski free kick brought a sprawling save from Adrian before Cazorla almost capped his fine night's work with a magnificent solo effort.

But Arsenal did grab a third, 11 minutes from time. Giroud's cross from the left was nodded into the path of Podolski by substitute Aaron Ramsey, and the German smashed a left-footed shot into the roof of Adrian's net.

On Podolski, Wenger said: "He is a natural finisher and that is why it is always difficult to position him on the pitch. You want him in the box, in front of goal, as well as wide. But I think tonight he moved better, more, and got into some very interesting positions.

"West Ham defended well so we had to be patient, intelligent and resilient. Our picture is quite clear now. We have to win every single game, that is the only way we can manage to do what we want to do."

West Ham manager Sam Alladyce, who still requires another three points to guarantee Premier League survival, said: "After doing so much to get ahead, not going in 1-0 up at half-time was a big disappointment. The second goal sickened me because the performance meant nothing after that. We didn't create enough.

"We've fallen behind in pre-season planning - contracts to new players, along with players in and players out. As soon as you're safe, the planning has to start. That way I don't get shouted at by the wife when I'm on the phone for six hours a day on my holidays."

Next up for Arsenal is a trip to Hull City on Sunday in a dress rehearsal for the forthcoming FA Cup final, while the Hammers face a relegation six-pointer against Crystal Palace.

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Metersaker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Kallstrom, Rosicky (Ramsey, 71), Cazorla (Jenkinson, 87), Podolski, Giroud.

WEST HAM UNITED - Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Armero, Reid, Diame, Noble, Jarvis (Vaz Te, 78), Nocerino, Downing (Cole (J), 78), Carroll (Cole (C), 84).

REFEREE - K. Friend.

ATTENDANCE - 59,977

Dale and Nicholson too strong for Village as Coopers lift the cup

HAMBLETON LEAGUE DIVISION TWO BOB SEYMOUR TROPHY FINAL
THREE COOPERS 3 CATTERICK VILLAGE 0
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium

Highlights of this match are available here

TWO goals from Danny Dale and one from Paul Nicholson gave Three Coopers the Bob Seymour Trophy on Thursday evening as they beat Catterick Village at the Calvert Stadium.

The two form sides in Division Two were expected to produce a closely-contested final but it was Coopers' extra fire power that saw them lift the cup.

Dale capitalised on a mistake by Village goalkeeper Karl Latcham to give the Bedale-based side a 31st minute lead before Nicholson fired home a superb second just before the break.

Catterick fought hard to get back into the final in the second period but Dale was on hand to score again 16 minutes from time and there was no way back after that.

Coopers' manager Tony Ross said: "I am absolutely delighted. I thought it was a first class performance, brilliant from all the lads. I can't fault their effort and commitment, and it was just wonderful to see.

"Credit to Catterick. They really made a game of it. They came at us and they battled for the full 90 minutes. We had to match them in every department.

"I think we were the better side and we tried to play the football. We always try to play football. We had the better chances, particularly in the first half. Today everything went well and we are happy with the 3-0."

Both sides came into the final on the back of a good run; Coopers were unbeaten in 12 matches while Village had lost just once in 20. And it was the Catterick side who should have taken an early lead. Danny Allen did well down the left but Stew Fotheringham somehow managed to fire wide of a gapping goal.

That proved crucial when Coopers went ahead just past the half-hour mark. Latcham failed to hold a cross and when Mark Patchett recycled the ball into the penalty area, Dale was on hand to tap home with his left foot.

Coopers were on top now and Adrian Woodward headed just wide before Nicholson doubled their advantage two minutes before the break - skipping past a couple of challenges down the left before firing low past Latcham.

Catterick looked more of a threat in the early stages of the second half but the Coopers defence was not prepared to give anything away and the better chances were all at the other end. Nicholson was denied by a fine save by Latcham before Dale and Jack Reynard both came close.

But it was game over 16 minutes from time. Village momentarily switched off from a throw-in and Dale turned his man before beating Latcham at the second attempt.

Village substitute Michael Ingram did have the ball in the net soon after but his celebrations were cut short by the assistant's offside flag as it proved to be Coopers' night.

Liverpudlian Dale, who dedicated his goals to the Hillsborough victims battle for justice, said: "I've never had a good game in a final so it was decent to get a couple of goals. We didn't play like we can do usually. [Catterick] played long ball a lot which took our midfield out the game, but we got the win and that's all that matters."

Coopers face Catterick again in May what could well prove to be a league title decider and Dale remains confident his team will come out on top again.

"We've been unbeaten in the league since November now so hopefully we can push on and finish that off."

THREE COOPERS - Woodward (D), Woodward (A), Allison, Adams, Parker, Toman, Rayner, Reynard, dale, Nicholson, Patchett. SUBS - Kitchenman, Thomas, Robinson, Coombs, Hodgson.

CATTERICK VILLAGE - Latcham, Kinsley, Smith, King, Ewart, Hodgkinson, Wooff, Lister, Fotheringham, Allen, Rudd. SUBS - Dees, Ingram, Mant-Smith.

REFEREE - P. Scott

ATTENDANCE: 162

Everton - the aftermath

LISTENING to many of the comments from Arsenal fans recently, you would think that this late season collapse is a regular occurrence. But the opposite is actually true.

In 13 of the 17 seasons under Wenger, the club's league position has actually improved between February and April. 13 out of 17. So in actual fact these late season collapses are the exception to the rule.

In fact this is only the third time we have let a title challenge slip in the spring. In 2008 we fell apart after the Eduardo game at Birmingham and an FA Cup thrashing at Old Trafford. Lack of squad depth perhaps the reason.

Then in 2011 when we were chasing a possible quadruple, we lost to Birmingham again, this time in the Carling Cup final, and another collapse of Biblical proportions followed. But these have not been the norm. Far from it.

In fact the last two seasons have seen us recover from a slow start to finish strongly; both times overhauling a big Spurs advantage to pip them to the final Champions League spot. So a late season collapse is very rare.

Another myth going around is that we were only top of the table earlier in the season because we had an easier run of games. Well lets look at that shall we.

We were top after 19 games, the halfway point in the season and a time when everyone had played everyone else once. So we had in fact played all the same teams as everyone else. Not sure how we had easier fixtures then.

But I guess it is easy to look at the negative in everything following what was an unacceptable performance at Goodison Park yesterday. And coming on top of other poor displays at Chelsea, at home to Swansea and away at Liverpool.

Much of the slump has been down to the injuries suffered to key players. Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil have all been out so is it any wonder the attacking play has been so pedestrian.

Of all our recent poor displays though, this one at Goodison was the least painful. Everton are a decent club who do things the right way. They have not tried to buy success, it has been built on solid foundations and they have developed many great young players. It doesn't feel quite so bad losing to a club like them because their philosophy is the same as ours.

So much so in fact that I believe we saw the future of Arsenal yesterday. Martinez looks the perfect fit to replace Wenger when he finally calls it a day.

Everton play some good football and on Sunday they fully deserved their victory. They were better than us in all areas of the pitch. But the game is decided by small margins, and had Podolski's effort just before half time gone in, or Giroud's just after the restart, it may have been a different story.

But in the end it was poor defending that once again cost us away from home. With Vermaelan and Monreal at the back, we were always going to struggle. I am not sure what has happened to the Vermaelan from a few years ago. That guy was awesome. But now he a shadow of his former self and why he is still captain is something only Wenger can answer.

Poor Monreal, on the other hand, has never been good enough. Exposed time and time again. To be fair he did put in some useful deliveries from forward areas but I would prefer to see Sagna at left back if Gibbs is unfit.

Speaking of Sagna, he was once again our best and worst player. The guy is phenomenal but gets no cover whatsoever. So every time he goes forward, which he has to do on a regular basis as we have no other attacking threat down the right in the absence of Walcott; no one covers for him. No one. So when we lose the ball, as we inevitably do, there is a massive space behind him to exploit. So he constantly looks out of position.

Cazorla and Rosicky are not interested in covering. Mertersaker is often forced to pull across, thus leaving us exposed on the left side of our defence. Yesterday, the combination of Vermaelan and Monreal was an accident waiting to happen and unsurprisingly two of the three goals came from that area.

Everton got their tactics spot on. Every time their full backs attacked; and in Baines and Colman they have two of the best attacking full backs in the county, the wide men dropped in. It was seamless. Of course our one-paced attack helped them, but even so. Everton was a team who were in tune with each other and worked together as a unit. Arsenal, by comparison, looked like a bunch of strangers.

Despite such a poor performance though, I was shocked by some of abuse handed out by the travelling fans. Giroud, who admittedly was woeful, as he has been since his off the field antics came to light, was booed nearly every time he touched (mis-controlled) the ball and this reached a crescendo when he was substituted in the second half. And as for Wenger. Well he is public enemy number one. Not sure how any of that helps though.

Moreover, you have to ask; are things really that bad? Looking at our remaining fixtures there is every possibility we will finish the season with 79 points. One more than when we won the league in 1998. Yes, one MORE. There is also a very real chance we could win the FA Cup. Would that be a bad season? But it seems that a large section of the fans have already made up their minds.

But what happens if we blow it, as many expect us to do? What if we lose to Wigan this weekend and then finish 5th? Actually, I do not think that would be the disaster many are predicting.

If we do not win the FA Cup, I actually hope we finish 6th and do not qualify for Europe at all. As Liverpool have shown this season, no Europe can lead to fresher players at this crucial stage of the season. And the Europa League? Do me a favour.

Next season, I believe we will be serious challengers. All the signs are there. We have the basis of a very good squad. Players like Koscielny, Metersacker, Sagna, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Ox, Podolski, Walcott. With the right additions; a new goalkeeper, left back, cover at centre half, a defensive midfielder and two strikers, and we could be champions in 2015.

But something has to change. We have been nearly men for too long. This season has shown we are not far away. Not very far at all. But Wenger has probably taken us as far as he can. It seems the players are no longer buying into his ideas. It needs freshening up.

So I hope he can go out on a high. He deserves that. Winning the FA Cup and finishing 4th will mean he can go this summer with his head held high and give the new man something positive to build on.

Of course defending the FA Cup was something Martinez was never able to do at Wigan. Maybe next season he will be able to fulfil that ambition at the Emirates. After yesterday's events, we could certainly do a lot worse.

When the Bell tolls - Sporties leave it late to retain cup

FRANK BAINBRIDGE CUP FINAL
SPORTSMANS FC 3 NORTHALLERTON POLICE 2
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium

Highlights of this match can be viewed here

A DRAMATIC last-gasp winner from defender James Bell on Thursday evening saw Sportsmans FC retain the Frank Bainbridge Cup in a thrilling final against old rivals Northallerton Police.

Division One leaders the Police had looked on course to snatch the trophy from their neighbours after strikes from Liam Darville and Jason Newall saw them overturn a first half own goal from Gary Shardha. But Sportsmans captain Sam Grainger equalised with six minutes to go before Bell's dramatic last-kick intervention.

Sporties manager Carl Kelly said: "I'm delighted. The lads deserve it. We've had a long way to go this season, struggling to get a squad together.

"We all know we didn't play at our best; it's probably the worst we've played since I took over. I thought the Police were the better to be honest. I think in the last 15 minutes our fitness probably told rather than that we played any better.

"We've played more cup games than we have league games so we have a lot to play. Yes, we can still win the league but no talk of the treble. We don't want to put a jinx on it. But we've got the first hurdle done."

In Aintree week it was surprisingly referee Mark Ullyott who was first to fall. Suffering with kidney stones, the official had to be replaced by assistant David Homes after just 16 minutes. But it was first blood to holders Sportsmans in this clash of the Hambleton League heavyweights.

Colin Anderson had already hit the post midway through the first half when the unfortunate Police defender Shardha turned a 27th minute cross from the Sporties danger-man past his own goalkeeper with Scott McNichol waiting to pounce.

But the lead lasted barely four minutes. A long ball out of defence by Newall fell to Laim Darville in the penalty area and he neatly clipped it past Jed Clarkson from 8 yards to make it 1-1 at the break.

The Police came out strongly at the start of the second period and they deservedly took the lead six minutes after the restart. A corner from the left by Chris Walker found the head of Newall, and although his connection was not as clean as he would have liked, the ball somehow found its way into the net.

The Police were now rampant and they came close to sealing the cup when first Sam Vernalls and then Ashley McInerney came close to doubling their advantage.

But it was the holders that dragged themselves level with just six minutes left on the clock. A corner from McNichol was only half cleared and Grainger dived in bravely to send a header into the bottom left-hand corner of Adam Cunningham's net.

There is usually very little to choose between these sides and it now looked as though extra time would once again be required. But deep into stoppage time, the Sporties won it.

Again it was the set-piece delivery of McNichol that created confusion in the Police penalty area and left back Bell arrived to fire a right-footed shot past Cunningham from 10 yards. There was barely time for the game to restart when referee Holmes blew the final whistle and the Sporties celebrations could begin.

Match-winner Bell said: "It's definitely the high point of my season so far. To come through 3-2 in the last minute; it doesn't get much better than that does it.

"All I remember about the goal was; right foot, didn't look, back of the net! That's all the matters."

With a County Cup final against Cleveland Arms to come next week at Stokesley, this could be the first of an historic cup double for Kelly's heroes. The Police meanwhile, will hope to retain the league title as compensation for this heart-breaking late defeat.

SPORTSMANS FC - Clarkson (Je), Pratt, Lambert, Grainger, Bell, McNichol, Butterworth, Ramsbottom (An), Jackson, Ramsbottom (Aa), Anderson. SUBS - Caisley, Calvert, Dawson, Clarkson (Jo).

NORTHALLERTON POLICE - Cunningham, Ryan, Newall, Pinkney,Walker, Shardha, Darville (L), McInerney, Gunnell, Vernalls, Darville (B). SUBS - Pattison, Schofield, Cooke, Morris, Wright.

REFEREE - M. Ullyott/D. Holmes.