Moor Lane were one of the nearly men in the Leeper Hare York and District League last season.

They just missed out on promotion by finishing third in division three and were beaten 3-2 in the final of the Junior League Cup by LNER Builders at York RI.

Though the Lane ranks were arguably favourites on League form, they were strangely subdued in the first half and it was the Builders who seized the initiative to establish a two-goal lead by half time.

Andy Tuite was the first to strike, turning and shooting past the Lane goalkeeper before Tudor Carrington doubled the advantage three minutes before the break.

A half-time team talk seemed to have done the trick as Moor Lane came out with renewed determination and began to dominate.

The Builders were hanging on as first Danny Yates netted from close range after good work from the speedy Andy Innes and then Innes himself hit the equaliser.

Moor Lane then hit the woodwork twice as they went for the winner but the Builders refused to give in and, against the run of play, Carrington capitalised on a defensive mistake to net the winner with five minutes remaining.

Dringhouses Reserves followed up their Reserve 'A' championship and York FA Cup success with a comfortable 4-0 win over Pocklington's third-string to land the Reserve Cup.

Three first half goals effectively killed off the game as a contest.

Jamie Backhouse opened the scoring after 23 minutes and two minutes later Wayne Carter was left unmarked and with time to net the second from 20 yards.

Five minutes before the break Steve Cross made it three with a long-range shot through a crowded penalty area.

The second half was an anti-climax with the only highlight being a Craig Atkinson goal on the hour to seal Dringhouses' triumph.

Updated: 11:29 Saturday, May 17, 2003