For the second year in succession, Bedale Athletic have won the South Cleveland Garages Teesside League RT Raine Trophy.
In a well-fought affair, Bedale came out 6-1 victors against Stokesley SC. After a nervy start by both sides, Bedale's strike partnership of Michael Robinson and Adam Bramley began to show the sort of form that has delivered over 50 goals between them this season with some great movement, which had the Stokesley defence having to shift up a gear just to keep the duo at bay.
The game's first goal came on 20 minutes; Russell Edwards sent over a great free kick from the right and Bramley nipped in front of his marker to nod home a well deserved goal.
Fifteen minutes later, Edwards got himself on the scoresheet, finishing a fine solo run with a curling right foot shot into the top right hand corner.
Two goals down at half-time, Stokesley reappeared for the second half in a more attacking frame of mind. This seemed to suit Bedale's counterattacking style, and in the 55th minute, Stephen Anderson broke down a Stokesley attack, the loose ball fell to Robinson who picked out a great run by Bramley who sealed the tie with a cool finish beneath the oncoming keeper.
The Stokesley lads' heads dropped at this point and their luck was completely out when one of their centre halves saw red for a tussle with Bedale winger Jonny Sinclair. The holders of the trophy used their one-man advantage to great effect and were soon 4-0 ahead with Edwards going past three players before rounding the Stokesley keeper and slotting the ball home for the goal of the game.
Fifteen minutes from time, Sinclair made it five with another solo run capped off with a left foot cross-come-shot that gave the keeper no chance.
Substitute Richard Lambert rounded off the scoring for Bedale five minutes later with a deft flick from a Robinson centre that crashed in off the underside of the bar.
Stokesley did manage a late consolation goal after a mix-up in the Bedale defence between man of the match Mark Chisholm and goalkeeper Alistair Hogg, Jonathan Smith had the easy task of rolling the ball into the empty net.
The victory ended a great season for Bedale Athletic who finished fifth in the league.
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