THE Scarborough League's representative side lifted the Ernie Fairclough Memorial Trophy last night after beating their Leeper Hare York and District counterparts 3-0 at Bootham Crescent.

All the goals came in the second half, with the final scoreline perhaps flattering the Boro boys. They had had the best of the chances in the first half but ironically scored after York's best spell of the match.

The Leeper Hare side, with centre-back Jamie Hopwood excellent, had dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second half, with outstanding striker Simon Collins twice being denied by goalkeeper Jamie Freeman, once with a tremendous save and then with a one-on-one block. But a York mistake in midfield allowed Boro to break forward and open the scoring through Kirkbymoorside's Andrew Hodgson.

They got a second goal from another quick attack thanks to Hodgson's team-mate Alex Strickland and York's best chance of pulling one back came and went as David Cruddas chipped the 'keeper only to see the ball cleared off the line. The referee then ruled a pass-back as the 'keeper picked the ball up - but the indirect free-kick from six yards out hit the wall.

Boro rounded off the scoring with a penaltyfrom Martyn Ferrey, the Edgehill player, five minutes from time.

"I felt 3-0 flattered Scarborough overall, although they were the better team on the night," said Leeper Hare team manager Bill Pearce.

His Scarborough counterpart, Steve Coulson, the Edgehill boss, said: "We thoroughly deserved the win and it just shows the all-round strength of the Scarborough league."

He picked out his centrebacks Mickey Sellars (Edgehill) and Andy Clyde (Cayton) as his star players on the night.

The trophy is named after the late Ernie Fairclough, a stalwart of York and District League football.

Updated: 11:26 Wednesday, March 03, 2004