THE York Minster Engineering League representative team lost 6-5 on penalties against the Scarborough League - but have grievance with a controversial spot kick award in normal time.

At the Flamingo Land Stadium in Scarborough, the Minster side led 2-1 at the break and - despite having a man sent off - largely held their own in the second period.

But a seemingly innocuous 71st-minute incident on the edge of the area gave the hosts the chance to make it 2-2 in the Ernie Fairclough Trophy match - and they did not look back from there.

The game almost started with a bang as - from the kick-off - a Scarborough striker glided past the York defence, only to shoot wide, before the York League got a foothold in the game.

And the Minster reps were unlucky not to take the lead when Scott Nicholas' looping ball was volleyed past the left-hand post by Chaz Wrigley.

The visitors did take the lead after 25 minutes, with Cameron Sanderson robbing the Scarborough left-back before firing in a cross that defender Ricky Nock headed into his own net under pressure from two onrushing attackers.

Before the dust had time to settle, however, Scarborough were level. This time it was Nicholas dispossessed in front of his own area and Boro striker Sean Exley beat keeper Michael Clancy.

The home side, now in the ascendency, put together a well-worked move that saw them strike a post before a second effort was tipped past the woodwork by Clancy.

With half-time approaching, Matthew Mulhearn skipped past two of the Scarborough backline before feeding Alex Burton, and the Huntington player turned a defender to lash a shot into the net.

A final first-half incident saw Sanderson go down in the box with nothing given. The York side's frustration showed at the interval as they were reduced to 10 men following an altercation with the referee in the tunnel.

The first 20 minutes of the second period went by without a goal threat, until the aerial challenge on the edge of the penalty area gave Jamie Bradshaw the chance to level from the spot.

With the scores level and the clock ticking down, another Sanderson cross found substitute Jonny Bullivant with the goal seemingly at his mercy, but the forward was only able to divert the ball into the path of the onrushing Jack Simpson who agonisingly volleyed over the bar from close range.

A great near-post reaction save from Clancy in the final minute sent the game to penalties but Scarborough held their nerve to take the trophy.