Lancaster 2 Bishop Auckland 2 -- City win 4-3 aet and penalties

PHIL Brown kept his cool to secure the Unibond league trophy for Lancaster City after a night of high drama at Giant Axe.

A flowing end to end game saw City come from behind to take the lead, then face the agony of a late equaliser.

In case that wasn't enough, stir in an extra time wondergoal from Brian Butler which was controversially and bizarrely ruled out for offside and two goalkeepers who played like men possessed in the shoot out and you have all the ingredients for what one Unibond league official described as 'the most exciting cup final we've had in years.'

Bishop Auckland, a tough side from the north-east, started strongly and deservedly took the lead on seven minutes.

City's defence was slow off the mark in reaching Mark Salmon's through ball. Mark Brunskill was quicker and, with Thornley rushing off his line, he headed in to an open goal.

It took just five minutes for Paul Haddow to hit back for City. He sneaked up and nodded Bryan Butler's corner past keeper Jones.

The first half was a real end to end affair, with Bishop's, who boasted a full strength side against Lancaster's injury ravaged outfit, striking the post, care of Danny Mellanby while Thornley pulled off several quality saves.

City had their chances as well, with winger Colin Potts impressive down the flank.

The second half was only six minutes old when the next goal arrived, and this time it was City who took the lead.

Paul Haddow was again the scorer, arriving late after Jones was forced in to a good save in a goal mouth scramble.

Haddow's wild celebration was worthy of a match winning goal and, for most of the second half, City clung on, despite being forced to push an injured Kenny Mayers forward and re-arrange the defence.

But, on 78 minutes, Bishop's pressure finally produced a reward when Brunskill struck a shot from the edge of the area past Thornley.

City struggled to hang on for the extra 90 minutes, but managed to do so by the skin of their teeth.

However, extra time was a different story and, nine minutes in City were camped in the Bishop's half.

And they looked to have sealed the victory when Butler, 30 yards out on the left hand touchline fired a ferocious shot past Jones and in to the far corner.

The majority of a healthy and noisy 600 plus crowd at Giant Axe celebrated, but joy turned to anger when they noticed the linesman's flag, presumably against a city player in the box.

So, penalties it was. The first kick for either side was saved, and while Sapman scored the second for Bishop, Jimmy Graham's kick was stopped.

Kenny Mayers and Paul Haddow kept the home side in the game, but Stephen Bell still had a chance to win the game for Bishops with the fifth penalty.

However, the ball flew over the bar, Paul Rigby scored for city and sudden death it was, giving the two keepers a chance.

Gallacher and Potts saw their attempts saved before Danny Mellanby, one of the stars for Bishop's on the night, stepped up only to see Thornley pull off a magnificent save.

Phil Brown must have had nerves of steel when, seconds later, he stepped up to spark a huge celebration with a well struck spot kick.

Delighted manager Tony Hesketh said afterwards: "Own goals and penalty shoot-outs are awful ways for any team to lose a cup final.

"We lost one last week, we have won one this week. If we had not won a cup this season, it would have ended a bit flatly.

"The home fans were fantastic tonight. We have had a great hardcore of fans who have followed the team home and away, but that crowd tonight makes me think that our support is bigger than I thought.

"Hopefully those people will have enjoyed what they saw and may come back. The ground is going to improve and so will the team.

"Conference football is a reality and, hopefully, we can achieve it next season or the season after."