YORK City Ladies lifted the North Riding FA Ladies County Cup for a seventh time - but only after averting a massive shock amid some incredible final drama.

The Minsterbelles trailed their own reserve team 2-0 in their Nether Poppleton showdown and only claimed a dramatic equaliser in the last minute of stoppage-time - goalkeeper Sam Knight going forward at a corner and heading in a last-gasp leveller.

They then won 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out, Knight the heroine again.

First-team player-manager Ruth Brazier was quick to pay tribute to both sets of players.

"I think the game shows the strength of the club as a whole," she said.

"Both teams can be proud of their performance and the way we all battled. It bodes well for next season if we can keep the core of players we have and build on the club's success.

"The Reserves have to take credit for the way they took the game to us. I honestly don't think we have come up against a side who worked harder all season.

"They have some fantastic players but more than that they work and graft for each other as a team."

She added: "The first team have to take credit for overcoming a two-goal deficit and never giving up, battling all the way to the last kick."

City Ladies Reserves were in the ascendancy at the interval thanks to Ellie Randall's 20th goal of the campaign.

Fellow prolific scorer Sophie Tinson then added her 22nd - and remarkably the team's 100th goal this season - to leave them in line for a shock success.

The Belles' seniors responded as midfielder Nikki Brown halved the deficit, giving them genuine hopes of a recovery, but with 90 minutes played the brave Reserves were still ahead and on the verge of a sensational result.

However, seven minutes of additional time were signalled and in the final minute of that, Knight was sent forward at a corner and amazingly got the goal.

The inspirational Knight also saved the opening two spot-kicks of the shoot-out as her side went on to prevail.

Reserves boss Kira Robinson said: "I am so proud of each and every one of the reserve players.

"They fought so hard to get to the final and during the final they continued that, working together and playing for each other.

"It's devastating to be two goals up and to be drawn level in the last minute.

"Credit to the first team - they didn't give up and kept going until the whistle to get themselves back into the game.

"I believe every player involved for both sides truly did the club proud and it's something the club can build on for next season."

York City Ladies: Sam Knight, Jess Barnes, Sara Renfrew, Abbi Webster, Helen Winterburn, Sophie Simpson, Zoe Doherty, Nikki Brown, Kayleigh Davis, Megan Bramham, Ellie Regan. Subs: Martha Ohr, Sophie Whiting, Jess Cooke, Beth Clayton, Becca Dawson

York City Ladies Reserves: Leigh Bamford, Grace Foyer, Gemma Croft, Millie Templeman, Charlie Shaw, Vicki Robinson, Georgia Marsden, Laura Porritt, Ellie Randall, Hollie Smith, Sophie Tinson. Subs: Kira Robinson, Rachel Harding, Stef Moss, Alice Turner, Anna Whitehead.