Yorkies 0

Challenge Cup final

YORKIES came into this final full of confidence, having won the Premier Division comfortably - but Driffield EI, who claimed this trophy in extra time last season, weren’t about to give up their hold on it without a fight and set out to battle and frustrate the admittedly good Bridlington side.

And they could have got off to a flying start when striker Andy Stabler turned provider to thread a pass from the left through the Yorkies defence, giving his skipper Rich Grice a great opportunity. Referee turned keeper Sean Barber - on his first appearance of the season for Yorkies - managed to thwart the midfielder this time, but the gauntlet had been thrown down.

Yorkies still looked menacing when they came forward and Guy Deverson and Dale Ward had to be at their combative best in the centre of defence to seal the gaps as they appeared. In general though, the EI defence managed to protect keeper Phil Stevenson pretty well and with half time reached and the game still scoreless, Driffield confidence was growing. that they could get something out of this game.

It swelled even larger ten minutes after half time. EI launched a long cross in from the right, the Yorkies central defender missed out on his attempt at a clearing header and the ball dropped to Andy Stabler, who swivelled, took his time, and finished coolly into the bottom corner past Barber.

Yorkies were thrown out of their stride, the veneer of unbeatability began to wear thin, and cracks began to appear as they began to argue amongst themselves. The tackles began to fly in, the referee brandished a card or two, and lectures were administered.

Driffield were unlucky not to add a second when Jamie Ellis broke into the penalty area right side and his cross-shot brushed the outside of the upright. Scott Hosey, increasingly enjoying himself in a forward midfield role behind Stabler and Thompson, was unlucky too when he set off on a mazy run that took him through the centre of the Yorkies defence only to be foiled at the last gasp.

Yorkies had to push forward at the end, and forced a number of corners, but their finishing grew wilder and the closest they came was in the dying moments when keeper Stevenson, stretching to field a cross, just about got it over the bar.

A goal then would have been more than Yorkies deserved - and the result was certainly no more than EI’s gutsy display merited.