YORK Minster Engineering League’s representative team missed out on national glory and European competition following a 4-2 defeat to the North Riding League.

Scott Nicholas’ penalty put the York side in front during the FA Inter-League Cup final at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane but, after Chris Dyson had levelled the scores following Anton Buchan and Stuart Rose efforts, Matthew McQueeney settled matters by bagging a brace.

The North Riding League will now go on to represent England at the first stage of the European Championships in Slovakia.

The York team had earlier created the afternoon’s first chance with less than two minutes on the clock, as Dale Holding won a header from Nicholas’ corner and Damian Cox hooked over from seven yards.

At the other end, Rose’s shot on the turn was deflected away from goal by Sam Lingard, before Nicholas’ speculative 35-yard attempt bounced wide.

Nicholas’ next contribution was to open the scoring, however, on 19 minutes.

Excellent midfield play by Chris Bilton led to him threading through a ball for Cox to run on to through the left channel.

A lunge from Riding right-back Chris Norlund then saw both men tumble in the box and referee Thomas Bramall point to the spot.

Nicholas held his nerve superbly from 12 yards to firmly sidefoot past Patrick Pasani into his bottom-left corner, even though the keeper dived the right way.

Moments later, Nicholas’ edge-of-the-box half-volley forced a flying save from Pasani, before Riding began to get on top, led by the twin threat of winger Buchan and striker Rose.

Wigginton Grasshoppers keeper Mike Clancy was lucky to escape with only a yellow card when he rushed out of his box to trip a clear-through Rose and he was equal to Nathan Liddell’s resulting free kick.

Clancy was also quick off his line to smother from both Rose and Buchan as they charged clear of the York defence.

Phil Horsman’s downward header from an Arran Newman corner then bounced narrowly wide, before the pressure eventually told on 34 minutes.

Another run in behind the York defence by Rose saw him charge through the left channel and he squared for Buchan, who confidently beat Clancy from 12 yards.

More chances fell to Rose who volleyed wide after Newman’s corner had travelled all the way to the far post and he also drove off target after a purposeful burst.

Brief respite for the Minster League saw a rising Nicholas attempt call Pasani into action at his near post, but Liddell also dragged an edge-of-the-box effort wide on the stroke of half-time.

Riding went on to forge in front less than two minutes after the restart when McQueeny waltzed past several ineffective York challenges before squaring to Rose, who tapped in.

But the Minster outfit responded well and Dyson, who had been quiet up to that point, made the game all square again on 52 minutes when his brilliant, dipping 15-yard shot beat Pasani and crashed in off the underside of the bar.

Shortly afterwards, Dyson thumped a second effort against the upper frame of the goal but, this time, the ball bounced away from the goal-line.

As Chris Smith and Simon Wood’s men continued to apply pressure, Nicholas forced a save from a free kick, while Jamie Willstrop lifted a great chance over after Russell Spence’s slip sent him clear through the left channel.

Nicholas also headed wide but, after Bilton’s long-range strike was wayward, North Riding made it 3-2 on the counter attack in the 71st minute.

With his first taste of the action, sub Jamie Bellamy broke down the right and pulled the ball back for McQueeney to find the roof of the net from seven yards.

In reply, Bilton headed wide from Nicholas’ corner to the near post but, in the eighth minute of stoppage time, McQueeney combined with Rose down the left and rolled the ball into an inviting net after Clancy and Matthew Pallister had collided into each other.

York Minster Engineering League: Mike Clancy, Cameron Sanderson, Matthew Pallister, Dale Holding, Sam Lingard (James Edmond, 86), Andy Simpson (Chris Dempsey, 73), Scott Nicholas, Damian Cox (Jake Duckworth, 74), Jamie Willstrop, Chris Dyson, Chris Bilton. Subs not used: Matthew Mulhearn, Cameron Mulhearn.

North Riding League: Patrick Pasani, Chris Norlund (Jack Guy, 51), Phil Horsman, Russell Spence, Arran Newman, Liam Southall, James Dillon, Nathan Liddell, Anton Buchan (Jamie Bellamy, 69), Matthew McQueeney, Stuart Rose. Subs not used: Karl Liley, Michael Shellard, Matthew Sullivan.

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Attendance: 314