YORK Nomads Society lifted the first trophy of a potential cup treble after a superb victory in the North Riding FA Sunday County Cup final.

Nomads, who play in the Fastpack York Sunday Morning Football League, beat Teesside outfit The Cleveland, who are flying high in the Langbaurgh Sunday League, 1-0 at Stokesley.

They now face a second final in four days as they meet Goole-based outfit NUR in the York FA Sunday Morning Senior Cup at Tockwith on Sunday (10.30am).

They are also in the semi-finals of the York Sunday Morning League Cup, in which they will travel to Selby Olympia on April 16.

Manager Chris Smith said of the Thursday night success in Stokesley: "We deserved it. I think they maybe underestimated us. They started brighter but once we got settled in, we got more confident, and the goal was a really good goal.

"We also missed two or three good chances - the ref, Alf Greenwood, gave their keeper man of the match.

"Our defence was outstanding, especially late on as they kept pumping balls into our box. We dealt with it really well."

The Cleveland beat an albeit understrength Wigginton Grasshoppers 10-2 in the earlier rounds of the competition, so began the final as favourites. Wigginton are second in the York Sunday Morning League, one place above Nomads.

The Middlesbrough outfit began on top, too, pressuring the York side throughout the first 15 minutes.

However, against the run of play, prolific goal-scorer Calum Ward put the Nomads ahead and Smith's men then grew in confidence, getting on top for most of the game until the closing stages when The Cleveland pushed forward.

A resolute Nomads defence stood firm, though, and ensured they took the first of the cup treble bid.

Smith added: "Now it's onto the next one on Sunday. We're not over-confident but we're confident of getting two in the bag."