Northern League: Chester-le-Street end long wait for cup glory in slick style
Chester-le-Street secured their first cup success since joining the Northern League in the 1980s on Saturday.
The Cestrians lifted the Second Division’s Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup, following a 2-0 final victory over Ryton & Crawcrook Albion at neutral Consett.
There were half-chances at either end, but Colin Wake’s Chester side forged ahead on 23 minutes, when they counter-attacked well and the move ended with Andrew Clarkson heading home past goalkeeper Darren Houghton.
The game ebbed and flowed, before, on 57 minutes, Ryton were awarded a penalty when Mason Stephenson was brought down by Connor Lyon in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
However, goalkeeper Jack Wilson saved Callum Turnbull’s spot-kick, diving low to his right, to keep Chester ahead.
The Cestrians defended well to maintain their clean sheet, and they breathed a huge sigh of relief in the third minute of stoppage time when Dan McGuire raced through and slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net to clinch a 2-0 success.
Dunston UTS were beaten by Consett in last month’s Durham Challenge Cup final.
But they ensured glory of their own by edging a 1-0 win over Bishop Auckland in the Brooks Mileson League Cup Final at Consett.
After a goalless first half, and a game of very few clear-cut chances, it took until the 77th minute for the deadlock to be broken, when Dale Burrell fired in from a tight angle past goalkeeper Gareth Young.
Two minutes later, the Tynesiders were awarded a penalty, but goalkeeper Young saved well from Mark Fitzpatrick’s spot-kick.
Bishops, though, could not force an equaliser in the remaining time.