Referee: Lee May

Assistants: Adam Redford, Michael Floyd

4th Official/Reserve: Neil Wright

Amble Tavern retained the NFA Sunday cup this year after a seven goal thriller which was settled at the end of extra-time.

After a slow first-half the teams went into the break with Burradon taking the early advantage. The second-half produced an exciting contest with Amble coming from behind twice to level the scores and take the game to extra-time in which Amble scored three goals to come out as champions.

The game started with Burradon & New Fordley retaining most of the possession, helped by midfielder Sean McRoberts who kept calm and held the ball well in the first few minutes.

On the 5th minute, Michael Turner rose highest from a Burradon corner and managed a powerful six yard header which could have easily given Burradon the lead.

Afterwards, clear cut chances were few and far between for both sides due to some good defending, most notably Andrew Keenan tackling Josh Hay to avoid an early Amble goal.

The deadlock was broken however on the 34th minute when the Burradon full-back kept the ball in and played it to Sean McRoberts who delivered a flawless outside-of-the-boot cross to the head of Michael Chilton who scored from six yards.

An excellent chance to equalise before the break was wasted when Liam Brooks lost composure in front of goal after finding space for a shot. The score at half time was 0-1.

The second-half produced a much more entertaining fixture, especially when Liam Brooks made amends for his miss in the first-half by slotting past Houghton early on in following a long ball over the Burradon full-back’s head.

Burradon again took the lead on the 63rd minute when Danny Sayer finished from an acute angle following a save from Amble ‘keeper Stuart Shanks.

Amble Tavern were given a great chance to equalise through a free kick on the far right of the box. Substitute Robert Baker stepped up and delivered an inch perfect curling effort with his left foot which lobbed the ‘keeper and tied the scores level on 77 minutes.

An amazing save at the end from Darren Houghton kept Sean Taylor’s name off the score sheet, however Taylor managed to contribute when he won a penalty early on in extra-time after he was brought down when dribbling through the Burradon defence.

Captain Josh Hay led by example, converting his spot kick despite the keeper guessing the right direction. Hay also got his second of the game a few minutes later, nodding in at the back post from a Sean Taylor cross.

To give Burradon credit they didn’t give up in the second half of extra-time, challenging the ‘keeper from range and with long throw-ins, but Stuart Shanks commanded his area well to keep his team in front.

Disaster struck for Burradon when another substitute, this time Brett Aisbett, scored for Amble by beating the goalkeeper and slotting into an open goal on 115 minutes, which put the game beyond doubt.

Amble Tavern managed to see the next five minutes out and seal the 2017 NFA Sunday Cup; their second in successive years, much to the delight of the Amble spectators at Whitley Park.

Amble Tavern XI: Shanks, Douglas, C.Graham, Lowes, Straghan, Giles (Baker 69’), Wake, Taylor, Brooks (Gair 79’), Hay, M.Graham (Aisbett 108’)

Subs: C.Brooks, Gair, Baker, Aisbett, Hume

Burradon & New Fordley XI: Houghton, Brotherick, Turner, Keenan (Lee 97’), Miller, Hall, McRoberts (Besford 71’), Atkinson, Andrews (Tumilty 82’), Chilton, Sayer

Subs: Lee, Waugh, Cairns, Besford, Tumilty, Patrick, Malone