League Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Unison GLR 1
Northallerton Police 0
(after extra-time)

A PENALTY by David Cooke in extra time was just enough to keep holders Unison GLR on course to retain the League Challenge Cup after a hard fought semi-final against neighbours Northallerton Police at County Hall last Sunday.

The Police arrived looking to reach their second cup final of the season, having already lifted the Frank Bainbridge Trophy, but Unison have endured a difficult campaign, and they were hoping to go out with a bang by retaining the cup they won in such style last year.

But with so much at stake, neither side was able to gain control in a low-key first half. It may have been a different story had Colin Anderson given the hosts a third-minute lead, but he headed wide from close range with only keeper Danny Yates to beat and that proved to be the only clear cut opportunity for either side before the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern but, gradually, the game began to open up in the final 20 minutes. The Police looked to have made the breakthrough just past the hour when a free-kick from 25 yards by Dan Cardie appeared to be heading for the bottom left hand corner of the net, but Unison defender Chris Walker was just able to get across and deflect the ball away for a corner.

Then, a minute later, a powerful drive by Nathan Henningbrough was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Unison keeper Adam Hodgkinson, before a shot from Ben Darville was blocked by Walker again.

The hosts best chance to win it in normal time fell to Anderson in the 84th minute after a great through-ball from Mark Raw sent him clear, but he was again unable to beat Yates and the tie went into extra time.

The decisive moment came in the final minute of the first extra period when referee Jim Wilson adjudged that Police defender Johnny Morris had brought down the speedy Raw in the area and Cooke confidently stroked home the penalty.

The visitors were almost level immediately after, when Henningbrough headed against the bar, but they had to finish the game with ten men after substitute Phil Rofe hobbled off with a knee injury, and only a great save from Yates prevented Lee Shardha marking it 2-0 in the closing moments.

Unison will face Richmond Turf in the final again – after they overcame Robert Thompsons in the other semi – at the Regency Stadium, Northallerton on Thursday, in what is sure to be another thrilling encounter between the two sides who have dominated this league over the last few years.