YORK College remain on course for a national double after Sean Hunter’s strike sent them through to the final of the English Colleges FA Cup.

As in the quarter-finals, Garforth Town striker Hunter scored the only goal of the game to defeat last-four opponents Thomas Rotherham College at Sim Balk Lane.

The York pupils had already won through to the English Schools’ Colleges FA Cup final, which will take place against Farnborough Sixth Form College on Wednesday at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium, kick-off 4pm.

It is the first time in the history of the college’s team, who operate in partnership with the i2i Football Academy, have reached both finals.

York will now be hoping to go one better in the ECFA Cup final, having been narrowly defeated by Milton Keynes College last season.

This year’s squad features just a handful of players that appeared at Birmingham City’s St Andrews Stadium in that match, after the likes of Romario Vieira, Alfie Beestin and Casey Stewart moved on to professional clubs Leeds, Doncaster and Sheffield United respectively.

The 2017 crop is, therefore, predominantly made up of first-year students, making their achievement all the more remarkable.

In monsoon conditions, Jack Simpson and Marcel Chigumira both tested the Thomas Rotherham keeper early on in the ECFA semi-final.

Winger Simpson also posed problems with his explosive pace and saw an early penalty appeal waved away.

At the other end, meanwhile, keeper Nick Lock, who has been in terrific form all season, turned a rasping strike around the post.

The home side were then awarded a penalty after Chigumira was hauled to the ground, but his spot kick was saved by the keeper’s legs.

But Hunter broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second period, as Tom Hullock sent him clear on goal as the hosts countered from a corner.

He went on to confidently curl into the back of the net and, while substitutes Joe Wales and Dan Davison were later denied by superb saves, the goal proved enough to settle matters.

Delighted sports development centre co-ordinator Gaz Lee paid tribute to the players and coaches, saying: “The men’s football development centre has been outstanding this year and the first team making two national finals is really the icing on the cake. This is a fitting reward for all of the lads involved in both squads and the very least that the dedicated coaching team deserve.

“The work of i2i’s head coaches, whose attention to detail, preparation and unwavering desire to make this college programme one of the best in the country, is phenomenal.”

The ECFA Cup final will be played against Swansea’s Gower College on May 3 at a venue to be confirmed.