Scorpion Division Three Cup Final

A DRAMATIC injury time winner from Duncan Terry gave West Tanfield the Scorpion Cup as they came from behind to beat Colburn-based side Travaux FC in a thrilling final at the Regency Stadium, Northallerton last Thursday evening.

Travaux struck an early blow when Ashley Lytolis cut in from the right before firing the ball past Tanfield keeper Ben Richmond to give his side the lead inside ten minutes.

But Tanfield struck back less than two minutes later when Lewis King made an enterprising run down the right which was only halted by a crude challenge from ex-Tanfield defender Chris Thwaites, and referee Geoff Chapman had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Polish midfielder Charlie Ratazak stepped up and kept his cool to bring his side level.

After such a breathless opening period, the game became a bit of a stalemate after that as both sides started to cancel each other out, but it was Travaux who began to enjoy the better of the possession and the chances.

Tanfield finished the half on top and Terry sent King away in the 31st minute, only for him to shoot tamely at Elliott, while Martin Mason then headed over at the far post after a floated free kick from the left by Darren Stalling.

The second half almost got off to an explosive start when Pete Hurry slalomed his way through the Tanfield defence within a minute of the restart, but he was denied a marvellous solo goal by a wonderful save by Richmond.

Travaux again enjoyed the greater share of possession as the second half wore on but the Tanfield defence, superbly marshalled by man of the match Tom Smith, kept their chances down to a premium. With 20 minutes left the Colburn side should have gone back in front when a corner from the left by McGuigan found substitute Andrew MacIntoch arriving unmarked at the far post but he failed to test Richmond, while the impressive Chris Greig then made space for himself on the edge of the Tanfield area before firing narrowly over the top five minutes later.

But it was Tanfield who broke out to go in front for the first time with 12 minutes left. Terry was brought down on the edge of the area by Thwaites, and substitute Jamie King curled an unstoppable free kick over the wall and into the top left hand corner of the net.

That looked like being the winner, but Travaux fought back strongly and, after forcing a succession of corners, they were rewarded when Chapman spotted a handball offence by Smith, and Hurry sent Richmond the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Travaux had their tails up and they should have gone in front in the final minute when Lytolis squared to Hurry inside the area but, with time and space to pick his spot, he miscontrolled the ball and the chance was gone.

That proved to be a costly miss as Tanfield grabbed the cup deep into injury time. Substitute Steve Lofthouse whipped in a great ball from the right, and Terry nipped in between two defenders to fire past Elliott from eight yards and start the Tanfield celebrations.