West Riding County Amateur Premier Division League Cup Final: Huddersfield YMCA 2 Steeton AFC 1 (after extra time)

STEETON came agonisingly close to beating the league champions and clinching the cup but a disputed penalty proved costly.

Sam Rooke had given the Chevrons the lead with ten minutes left but YMCA equalised from the spot minutes later to take the game into extra-time. Huddersfield went 2-1 up early into the extended period and, despite being reduced to nine men, held out for their third trophy of the season.

Steeton went into the final at Lower Hopton as one of only three teams to have defeated YMCA, who also won the Huddersfield District Cup.

The champions created more chances in the first half but were held at bay by some strong defensive work by Steeton. The central pair of Kyle Fox and Rooke won almost every header down the centre while full backs Joe Mason and Alistair Morgan played their best first-team matches for the club. When the defensive line was breached, goalkeeper Wayne Mahomet made a series of fine saves.

Steeton's first real chance did not arise until the 25th minute when a long-range pass from Andy Holden saw leading scorer Lee Reilly shoot narrowly wide.

At the other end, Brighton Mugadza missed two good opportunities and was thwarted a third time when Declan Consoli, Fox and Mahomet combined to force him to shoot narrowly wide.

A 0-0 interval scoreline was a credit to Steeton against a side which has scored more than 90 goals in the league.

YMCA almost took the lead three minutes into the second half when Craig Burns beat the offside trap and found himself one on one with Mahomet but the Steeton keeper brought off yet another superb save.

Five minutes later YMCA striker Kitson Gayle struck the bar as his side continued to dominate. Steeton were again grateful to Mahomet for two more acrobatic saves before Steeton took the lead on 80 minutes against the run of play.

A free-kick on the left near the halfway line was expertly curled into the area by Michael Rhodes where it was met by Rooke, who had risen highest to nod home.

The lead lasted only three minutes when the referee judged that Mahomet had brought down an opponent around the penalty spot, much to the amazement of players and officials from both sides. The Steeton keeper was cautioned and Daniel Stocker's spot-kick brought about the equaliser.

Two minutes later Burns was shown a second yellow card but Steeton had no time to take advantage of their numerical superiority before extra-time.

It took YMCA just two minutes to take the lead after a mistake by Mahomet as Mugadza dispossessed him on the edge of the area and slotted into the empty net. It was a terrible misfortune for a player who had done so much to keep his team in the game.

The second period of extra time was a bad-tempered affair as a dispute over a free-kick led to Gayle being shown a red card late on.

Steeton now had a two-man advantage but were unable to capitalise from two corners as YMCA clinched the treble.

Despite the defeat, Steeton boss Roy Mason was delighted with his players' display. He said: "It was a great game and I was immensely proud of the players and the effort they put in. They didn't deserve to lose in the manner they did, but we will bounce back stronger next season."

Steeton: Mahomet, Rhodes, Morgan, Kyle Fox, Rooke, Hird, Holden, Consoli (Park), Reilly (Sam Fox), Mason, Briggs (Dowthwaite).