A dramatic penalty winner in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of extra time gave Marske their first Northern League Cup final win against Whitley Bay last night. The league couldn't have asked for a more dramatic finish to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

It looked as if the game was heading for a penalty shootout until Adam Wheatley was pushed in the back when going for a long Liam O'Sullivan throw, and the referee Paul Curry pointed to the spot. Midfielder Craig Gott kept his cool and tucked the ball into the bottom corner.

Marske would have been kicking themselves if they had lost the game, as they had three excellent chances to win before the late drama.

They had plenty energy early in the game, but didn't really trouble the Whitley Bay defence.

Whitley slowly came more into the game, and after Paul Chow misplaced a header well wide, they took the lead on 23 minutes when Alex Kempster hit a low free kick from the right for Callum Anderson to volley in from six yards.

Chow almost got a second when Craig McFarlane dribbled to the corner of the six yard box and set him up for what seemed to be an easy tap in, but somehow full back Josh Myers managed to deflect the ball wide.

Whitley nearly got another at the start of the second half when player-manager Leon Ryan headed just wide from a free kick, then Myers blocked another goalbound effort, this time from McFarlane.

But Marske regrouped, made a couple of subs, and threw everything at Whitley.

Austin Johnston was inches away from connecting to a Liam O'Sullivan cross in front of goal, and Lev Yalcin made a good run and fired across the face of goal, and just past the far post.

After Johnston turned quickly and fired into the side netting, Marske's pressure finally paid off five minutes from the end of normal time when Yalcin picked up the ball in midfield, skipped past a challenge, and buried a right foot shot into the bottom corner.

And they nearly won it in stoppage time when Yalcin burst clean though with only Mark Cook to beat, but he prodded the ball weakly against the keeper.

And Whitley nearly won it themselves when McFarlane ran 50 yards and pulled his shot just wide of the far post.

In the first period of extra time, Marske's Jamie Poole had a close range effort cleared off the line, then Cook cleared straight to Chris McGill, who dallied and set up Yalcin instead, and he blazed over.

And McGill again lacked the finish when he ran through and set up Yalcin, who shot straight at Cook.

Marske finished the game with ten men after Josh McDonald limped off injured, Marske having used all three subs, and then Ryan was sent off or Whitley after disputing the penalty award.