Hambleton Black Sheep
Brewery League

Bob Seymour Trophy

Final Score: The Ship 3 Ainderby SC 2 

A BRACE from substitute Dan Dagg sent The Ship sailing in to the final oftheBobSeymour Trophy with victory over Ainderby SC at Middleton Tyas last Sunday.

On a snow-covered pitch, an early free kick from Will Stevenson looked to have set the visitors on their way to the final, but The Ship adapted better to the conditions and fought back with a penalty from Lee White and a double from Dagg to set up a showdown with NorthallertonWMC next month.

Ainderby were given the perfect start when Stevenson fired past stand-in Ship goalkeeper Scott Ryan from 20 yards, but that was about as good as it gotfor the visitors in a difficult opening period.

The Ship had to reorganise whenNickDagg was forcedoff with injury inside 20 minutes, but the introduction of his brother Dan would prove decisive in the end.

The hosts began to get on top with Tom Keegan and Luke Searle gaining the upper hand in midfield. And the equaliser they had been threatening finally arrived midway through the half.

White burst into the area and was brought down by John Dolan leaving Wilson no alternative other than to point to the spot. White then beat Ainderby goalkeeper Jon Wood from 12 yards.

With half time approaching, The Ship went in front when White pulled the ball back for Dagg to tap home from close range.

But Ainderby began the second period as they had the first, and they had the ball in the net within six minutes of the resumption. However, Adam Hodgson’s free kick was disallowed for a foul on Ryan.

It was clearlynot going to be Ainderby’s day when they had a strongpenalty appealturned down soon after. Chris Hope went downinthe areaunder a challenge by Simon Casey but the referee waved away their appeals as the ball had already gone out of play.

And their hopes of reaching the final were over 20 minutes fromtimeasTheShipgrabbed a third. Again Dagg was in the right place to stab the ball past Wood following a lovely cross from man of the match Keegan.

But Ainderby did let their heads drop and they threw everything forwardinthe closing stages. Ryan did well to deny Hope and Stevenson before the visitors did pull a goal back in the 86th minute – defender Anthony Thompson beating Ryan from fully 25 yards. That led to a frantic finale as Ainderby chased the goalthat wouldhave takenthe tie in to extra time, but The Ship held on to book their place in April’s final at Northallerton.