COUNDON AND Leeholme of the Durham Alliance league defeated Frank Hudson Transport Crook and District side Middlestone Moor Masons Arms 2-1 at West Auckland to win the Auckland Charity cup

Favourites Coundon started well and had a lot of the ball in the first half but Masons were well organised and restricted chances. Coundon broke the deadlock on 47 minutes when Ben Collinson slotted the ball into the corner from 15 yards. Masons had a much better second half though their keeper Levitt saved well from a one on one when a Coundon second looked odds on.  With a minute remaining the Coundon keeper was penalised for carrying outside the box and from the resultant free kick Lee Newby cracked the ball through the wall into the bottom corner. Masons had their best spell of the game in extra time but penalties looked odds on when Coundon snatched a dramatic winner. Two minutes remained when a corner broke to Darren Simpson twenty yards out and he unleashed a tremendous volley that was fit to win any final

Submitted by Maurice Galley