HOLDERS Unison GLR saw their grip on the North Riding County Cup finally broken after they were beaten 3-1 at home by Thornaby Dubliners last Sunday.

Having won the trophy for the previous two years and never having lost a tie in the competition in 11 previous attempts, Unison were favourites to make progress against a side who have been struggling in their league this season but after a goalless first half, Gareth Poole gave the visitors a 65th minute lead.

The tie looked over when Unison defender Chris Walker brought down James Hackett in the area ten minutes from time and referee Syd Nye pointed to the spot, but keeper Ian Moore kept his side in it with a fine save from Glenn Bultham’s penalty.

However, he could do nothing to prevent Luke McCloughlin doubling the Dubliners’ lead three minutes later, although Unison almost staged a dramatic late recovery. Simon Dodsworth headed them back into it in the 85th minute and, with two minutes left, Colin Anderson ran through the tiring visitors’ defence and looked set to equalise – but Nye blew for an earlier foul on the Unison man just outside the box.

Poole sealed the Dubliners’ place in the next round with a third goal on the break in injury time to ensure a new name will be on the trophy this year.

In the Frank Bainbridge Division One Cup, Northallerton Police eased into the semi-finals with a 3-0 win at Blue Star. Ben Darville gave the Police a fourth minute lead following a terrific 25-yard run from Chris Pattison, and Darville then made it 2-0 from the spot before the break after he had been brought down in the area by Star defender Steve Cattle.

The hosts played better in the second half, but their fate was sealed six minutes from time when a cross from the left by Darville was pushed into his own net by Star keeper James Lee to send the Police into the last four.

In Division One, Spotted Dog moved off the bottom of the table with a hard-fought 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Osmotherley FC. A tight game was settled by a goal from Bradley Woods midway through the second half, as the Dog leapfrogged the hosts and out of the bottom two for the first time since September.

In Division Two, Brompton on Swale stepped up their promotion bid with a 4-2 home win over struggling Topcliffe. Gavin Newall headed home a cross from Pete Akers to give the hosts an early lead and, while Lee Peacock equalised for Topcliffe soon after, a brace from Chris Pickersgill had Brompton in control by the break.

Newall was sent off after clashing with Topcliffe playermanager Nige Binks, but the ten men effectively sealed the points on 70 minutes when Pickersgill completed his hattrick with a strong run from inside his own half, before Gareth Barber grabbed a late Topcliffe consolation.

Three Coopers are also in the promotion shake-up after they beat Streetlam Farmers 5-1 in a match switched to Bedale.

Leigh Kinroy set Coopers on the way, before Graham Caygill and Matty Allison both struck twice, while Paul Tallentyre scored the Farmers’ consolation.

Northallerton WMC are another team chasing a return to the top flight and they enjoyed a 3-2 win at Cowtons to stay in second place.

Goals from Daniel Baxter, Chris Smales and an own goal looked to have settled the match in The Workies’ favour before the break, but a brace from Anth Weighall put the hosts right back into it and only some inspired goalkeeping from Paul Hardy ensured the visitors held on for all three points.

In Division Three, West Tanfield moved up to fourth place with a 3-1 win at Brafferton Rangers. Ross McSherry gave Tanfield the lead just before the break, but Rangers were level soon after the restart through Paul Tribe. However, McSherry then added his second to restore the visitors’ advantage while Steve Lofthouse then sealed the points six minutes from time.