SHORTHORN won the Hillsprint Hambleton Football Combination's Bob Seymour Trophy on penalties after the final against Leeming United finished a goal apiece.

A crowd of more than 400 people attended the match on Thursday, April 21, beating the record at Northallerton Town ground from the Frank Bainbridge Cup Final the week before.

The South Otterington side had the better of the early exchanges and took the lead after 12 minutes when Luke Rance put Joe Martin through to shoot past Billy Howes in the Leeming goal.

Leeming hit back with Lewis O’Connor's right-wing cross striking the Shorthorn bar before going over and out of play.

A minute later Leeming captain Stephen Reid hit a fierce shot from 25 yards, which Sam Rowley in the Shorthorn goal saved well. On 36 minutes, Leeming drew level. The referee played a great advantage and O’Connor hit another fine cross which found centre forward Dominik Colbron. He shot past Rowley from 12 yards.

A minute after half time, Shorthorn’s Rio Smithson Hogg was one on one with Howes, who made a good save. Neither side could find another goal, and the match went into extra time.

On 103 minutes, Leeming’s Bleddyn House hit the Shorthorn bar, and seven minutes later, Shorthorn’s Jake McNaughton was one on one with Howes but he shot straight at the 'keeper.

In the final minute of extra time Leeming had a great chance to win the game when Colbron hit the Shorthorn post from eight yards, the loose ball being cleared by Curt Tasker.

In the penalty shootout Shorthorn scored their first three penalties through Brad King, Jacob Stayman Collin and Tyrone Crow. Jez Opoku scored Leeming’s first penalty then Rowley saved the next two. Howes saved Shorthorn’s fourth penalty. Finally, Leeming’s fourth penalty went over the bar to give Shorthorn a 3-1 win.

After the game league councillor Paul Middleton presented medals to the four match officials, runners up trophies to Leeming United, Shorthorn’s Curt Tasker with the man of the match award, winners' medals to the Shorthorn team, and finally the Bob Seymour Trophy to the Shorthorn captain James Coatsworth.

Back in the league, on Tuesday, April 19, division one's second-placed Sportsman’s, Nton hosted Catterick Village and in a very close game managed a 3-2 win in injury time, with Colin Anderson scoring the winner. Fourth-placed Durham Ox hosted Streetlam Farmers, who were playing their last game of the season, and had a comfortable 8-1 win. Raiden Smithson Hogg and Dan Baxter both scored hat tricks. Jonathan Burn and Ryan Wilbour were the other Ox scorers. Ryan Monahan White was the Streetlam scorer.

Ox were back in action on Sunday against Kildale and in a close game scored two goals in the last three minutes to secure the points. Raiden Smithson Hogg put Ox ahead after 25 minutes. Josh Rowe equalised for Kildale shortly after half time. With the game heading for a draw, goals from Mikey Stevens on 87 minutes and Dan Baxter on 89 minutes gave Ox a 3-1 win.

Knayton hosted Cowtons in their final games of the season and played out a 0-0 draw. The Stokesley Wanderers versus Catterick Village game was postponed as Catterick Village could not field a side.

In division two, third-placed Kirklington playing their final game of the season visited top of the table Golden Lion, N’ton and won 4-0. Zac Okey put Kirklington ahead on 30 minutes. In the second half they scored a further three goals without reply through George Catterall, James Newcombe and Matthew Leaf. The win moves Kirklington up to second in the table.

Second-placed Shorthorn, South Otterington visited sixth-placed Oddies WMC, who were playing their final game of the season, and drew 2-2. James Coatsworth gave Shorthorn a great start scoring a fine free kick after just three minutes. Ben Taylor equalised for Oddies on 23 minutes. Rio Smithson Hogg restored Shorthorn’s lead on 40 minutes.

Jordan Wallace equalised for Oddies on 73 minutes when he chested the ball down and volleyed it into the top corner of the Shorthorn goal to give his side a creditable draw. The draw moves Shorthorn down to third in the table.

Catterick Garrison FC visited White Bear, Bedale and won 4-2. Zac Lake and Jed Simmons gave Bear a 2-0 lead. Catterick hit back to equalise before half time with goals from Ryan Lowe and Amos Chirwa. In the second half Catterick’s Connor Metcalfe scored a third on 60 minutes and Chirwa scored his second and his side's fourth to complete the scoring.

Sunday fixtures (10.30): Division one, Catterick Village v Kildale; Durham Ox, N’ton v Stokesley Wanderers. Division two, Golden Lion, N’ton v Shorthorn, S. Otterington.

Tuesday, May 3 (7pm): Division one, Catterick Village v Sportsman’s, N’ton.