CHAMPIONS Marcia lifted the York Univeristy Six-a-side Tournament title for a third time thanks to a late, late golden goal in the final against University 'A'.

It was unlucky for the students as after 13 minutes of golden goal extra-time, and with both teams down to four men, Kieron O'Brien latched on to a through ball and guided the ball past Uni goalkeeper Jim Arnold for the only goal of the game.

With both Arnold and Marcia custodian Scott Clapham playing excellently, neither side could get the breakthrough in normal time, and although chances continued to be created in the seven minutes of extra-time they were either spurned or saved.

At the end of this time golden goal continued, but under the innovative rules whereby each side removed a player after a minute and a second after another minute.

Both teams took advantage of the extra space to create chances but it still took another four minutes until the golden goal was scored, O'Brien keeping his nerve to win it.

In the semi-finals, goals by Paul Goldsmith and Dave Allison had seen Marcia through against Fulford Bay, while the University 'A' team needed a golden goal penalty from Phil Darby to eventually see off FC Magnet, who had come back from 3-1 down to level in normal time.

In the third-place play-off, Ray Mould and Matt Ward gave FC Magnet a 2-1 victory over Fulford Bay.

Updated: 12:11 Wednesday, July 04, 2001