A DISALLOWED goal in the dying minutes proved crucial as Yorkshire Herald beat Bishopthorpe United 2-1 in the York FA Sunday Morning Junior Cup final.

United, having fluffed chance after chance in the later stages of the match including an open goal miss by an unfit Joe Gardham, finally got the ball in the net but the strike was ruled out for offside.

Herald had taken the lead as early as the second minute when Peter Sinclair headed in following a long throw by Alex Dewhirst.

Bishops 'keeper Andrew Henk was on top form to thrice deny Herald a second before his side got back on level terms when Paul Broadbent netted after a goalmouth scramble.

Bishopthorpe went close when a Dewhirst clearance ricocheted just wide off Broadbent and again through a Paul Halliday effort, before Herald retook the lead when Henk spilled a cross for man-of-the-match Stewart Greenwood to tap in.

This goal proved the winner as Bishopthorpe, with Graham Wigley outstanding, fought in vain to get a leveller.

Updated: 10:05 Wednesday, May 07, 2003