Frank Bainbridge Div One Cup Final

Unison 2 Brompton on Swale 2

(aet, Brompton won 4-2 on pens)

UNISON'S treble dream ended in heartbreak as Brompton on Swale lifted the Frank Bainbridge Cup with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory at The Calvert Stadium a week last Thursday evening, writes Ricky Butler.

Unison were returning to Northallerton just five days after lifting the League Cup, but it seemed those celebrations had taken their toll as Brompton started the match very much on top.

Adam Emson burst through after only eight minutes, but keeper Ian Moore was out quickly to deny him. Then a great ball from Lee Wasden put Emson in again, but his powerful shot was tipped over by Moore.

Unison were finding it difficult to contain the pace of Emson at this stage and it was no surprise when the league's top scorer put Brompton ahead in the 36th minute. Again a great ball from the impressive Wasden put him through and he slid his shot past Moore from the edge of the box.

Unison barely had time to take in the blow before Emson struck again. Lee Mason pulled the ball back from the left and Emson reacted quickly to turn it in at the far post and put Brompton well in control at the break.

Unison looked jaded from their long season, but they dug deep in the second half as they tried to find a way back into the final.

They were given a lifeline within four minutes of the restart when a corner from the left by James Raw found its way to Mitch Cameron on the edge of the area. His shot did not appear to pose too much of a threat to Darren Poole's goal, but it took a wicked deflection on the way and looped into the top corner.

Suddenly Unison found a second wind and it was now Brompton who were hanging on. With Cameron now getting a firm grip in midfield the equaliser duly arrived in the 57th minute.

A free kick from Mark Raw was met by a powerful header from Dean Wilson eight yards out. Poole did well to tip the ball over the bar, but it proved only a temporary reprieve as James Raw whipped in the resulting corner from the left and Dave Scanlon arrived at the near post to glance the ball into the net.

Brompton were now finding it hard to recapture the flowing football of the first half and it was Unison who finished the match on top.

They thought they should have had a penalty in the 75th minute when Wilson was pushed over in the box by Dan Field, but the referee waved away their appeals. Then, with just four minutes left, a terrific shot by Darren Paul from fully 30 yards brought a great diving save from Poole.

Unison then almost won it in injury time when Paul's shot at the far post flashed just too far in front of Scanlon for the big defender to turn it into the empty net.

Chances were few and far between in the extra period as neither side wanted to risk losing it now. Unison substitute Michael Robinson did have the ball in the net in the 99th minute, but the assistant referee had his flag raised for offside. At the other end Emson missed the chance of a match-winning hat-trick when he fired over from a good position in the 106th minute.

So the final had to be decided by the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. Brompton won the toss and went first, but David Hill blasted his shot wide. Matthew Dodsworth then failed to take advantage for Unison when his weak effort was easily saved by Poole.

Thomas Ptak then squeezed his kick under Moore to give Brompton the lead, only for Simon Dodsworth to level it up for Unison. Emson was next up and confidently restored the Brompton advantage before Lee Sharda saw his effort saved by Poole.

When Brompton substitute Andrew McIntosh slotted in the next kick, it meant Paul had to score to keep Unison in it. He kept his nerve to make it 3-2, but Kalumn Holbrook knew that if he scored with the next kick Brompton would win the cup.

The youngster showed maturity beyond his years to calmly send Moore the wrong way and spark wild Brompton celebrations.

Unison: I Moore, D Scanlon, M Dodsworth, D Paul, D Taylor, L Sharda, D Wilson, J Raw, N Wilson, M Cameron, M Raw. Subs: Robinson, S Dodsworth, S McNichol. Brompton on Swale: D Poole, K Holbrook, T Ptak, D Field, R Dowson, L Mason, L Wasden, D Hill, S Collins, A Emson, D Bell. Subs: Reed, D Chapel, A McIntosh, M Hunter, D Ptak.