Newcastle Benfield manager Paul Baker hailed keeper Andrew Grainger as “magnificent” after they beat league champions Spennymoor with ten men in the Brooks Mileson Northern League Cup final last night.

Benfield won the competition in 2009 and 2007, but neither of those wins was as dramatic as last night’s victory, which will be remembered for an outstanding performance by Benfield keeper Andy Grainger.

“What a magnificent performance,” said Baker. “His penalty save was excellent, but then he surpassed it with some more saves later in the game.

“I thought the players showed a huge amount of tenacity, and they were very resolute after the red card. We kept our discipline well with a 4-4-1 formation, and our forwards caught Spennymoor with their pace twice.”

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said: “In games like this, you can’t afford to turn up at half time. The second half was much better and we pummelled them, but their keeper had a worldy, He pulled off at least three wonder saves. But against ten men, we should have done better, especially just after we got the score back to 1-1.”

Benfield took the lead after just three minutes when Carl Paterson made a good run into the Moors box, and fired across keeper Craig Turns.

Moors didn't look like getting back into the game until the third minute of the second half, when Benfield's Chris Feasey was sent off for handling a Leon Ryan header on the line, but keeper Andy Grainger superbly saved Steve Capper's penalty low down to his right.

Grainger made two more excellent stops – one in particular from Steve Richardson six yards out -- but he had no chance on 64 minutes when Steve Richardson's shot was blocked, and Gavin Cogden slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Grainger again denied Moors near the end of the 90 minutes, when he made a point blank save from Chris Lawther.

In extra time, Benfield again made themselves difficult to break down, and after 103 minutes they caught Moors on the break. Adam Rowntree chased a long ball from the back, held off a defender, and beat Turns with a left foot shot into the roof of the net.

Moors maybe knew it wasn’t going to be their night when Lawther managed to beat Grainger, but the ball hit the base of the post and bounced to safety.

And in the dying seconds with Moors pushing everyone forward, speedy Benfield sub Johnny Mann beat the defence for pace, and fired into the bottom corner for the third.