Wensleydale League

Dales Cup Final

Wednesday 30th June 2021

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Leyburn Town 2 Unicorn 2 (1-3 pens), attendance 89

9’ 1-0 (pen)

26’ 1-1

31’ 1-2

89’ 2-2

@ The Athletic Field

Caravan Site Road

Back Lane

Reeth

DL11 6TT

£2 Admission

No Programme.

Last Thursday I saw Unicorn win the Wensleydale League, by virtue of achieving the two goal victory they required, in what was a comfortable 1-5 win away to Leyburn Town. Tonight, the same two teams met in the Dales Cup Final, a competition that was first contested back in 1939. In fact, before last week, the only other match I had seen in this league was the Dales Cup Final in 2004, played at the now demolished Central Sports Ground in Catterick Garrison.

Unlike last week, Leyburn had something to play for tonight, and Unicorn were certainly made to work for their win. An early goal for the underdogs, scored from the penalty spot following a handball, was just what the game needed from a neutral point of view. Unicorn gradually came into the game and it was no surprise to see them draw level when their very impressive No.11 beat the offside trap and finished coolly. Five minutes later the same player cut inside and finished into the far corner to put Unicorn 1-2 up. The second half saw few chances and was very dull compared to what we witnessed before halftime. The game petered out and it looked like Unicorn had one hand on the cup, but Leyburn fashioned a goal out of nothing to level it up at 2-2 a minute from time.

We headed straight to penalties. The Leyburn efforts were simply dreadful. Their first and third kicks were saved, whilst Unicorn scored all three they had taken. Leyburn then saw their fourth kick sail so far over the crossbar it may have cleared the hills in the distance, and that was it, the league champions had achieved the double.