Captain leads by example in Dunston’s League Cup victory
CAPTAIN Dale Burrell was Dunston UTS’ match-winner as they landed their first Northern League Cup for 13 years.
Burrell scored 15 minutes from time to give his side a deserved win over Bishop Auckland in the second of two weekend cup finals at Consett’s Belle View Stadium
The first half of the final was a tenseaffair and neither side created any chances of note.
Dunston striker Mark Fitzpatrick had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes - but his shot from 12 yards was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Bishop’ goalkeeper Gareth Young.
The second period took its time to get going - but when it did it was the Two-Blues who should have taken the lead.
There were 65 minutes gone when striker Chris Winn fired over the crossbar from close range after Dunston goalkeeper Niall Harrison had saved from Michael Hoganson.
Bishops had a goal disallowed moments later when Winn was adjudged to have run out of play before rolling the ball back to Rhys Porter to blast home from closerange.
That decision was compounded on 75 minutes when Dunston took the lead.
A Liam Thear flick release Burrell in on goal and his fired the ball past Young and into the far corner.
Dunston should have been killed off their opponents two minutes after Burrell’s strike when they were awarded a penalty for a foul of Thear.
Fitzpatrick squandered the opportunity and his penalty was saved by Two-Blues goalkeeper Young.
Chester-le-Street Town wrote themselves into the club’s history books as they claimed the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup for the first time with a 2-0 win over Ryton and Crawcrook Albion.
Andrew Clarkson put the Cestrians in front on 23 minutes as he rose to expertly head home a fine cross from the left by Aaron Reynolds.
Albion should have been level on the hour mark but Callum Turnbull’s weak penalty was saved by Cestrians’ shotstopper Jack Wilson.
Colin Wake’s side secured the historic result when Daniel McGuire struck in injury time.