An Alex Strickland strike two minutes from time saw Kirkbymoorside lift the North Riding FA County Cup last night for the first time.

The hitman ran onto an Andrew Hodgson through ball, rounded the last man and slotted the ball home to give the Scarborough and District League side a 1-0 win over York rivals Bishopthorpe in a tense final at Pickering Town's Recreation Ground.

The Moorsiders' other hero was goalkeeper Darren Collier, who made a fantastic save to deny Julian Todd a first-half opener for Bishops.

Kirkbymoorside secretary Mike Hodgson said: "On our second-half performance we deserved it. Bishopthorpe had been under a bit of pressure, although we did think it was going to go to extra-time.

"They had the best of the first half but we came back into it and had most of the play after the break."

The victory gave the Moorsiders their fourth cup success in two seasons, and added to their Scarborough and District Harbour Cup win last month. "We've never won the County Cup before so it was an excellent night for us," added Hodgson.

Bishops boss Jeff Morrow could not disguise his disappointment at losing to such a late goal, which arose from a misplaced Bishopthorpe free-kick out of defence.

"We were hanging on in the end, but to lose like that was awful," he said.

"It was always going to be a mistake that decided the game. We had the best of the first half but in the second half we ran out of steam."

Morrow also claimed Bishops should have been awarded a penalty for handball midway through the second half. "Kieren O'Brien headed towards goal and the lad stuck his arm in the way," he said.

"It was the most blatant handball I've ever seen and if we got that it might have knocked the stuffing out of them, but it wasn't given."

As reported in the Evening Press, Bishops had entered the competition only by mistake, having wanted to go into the less prestigious North Riding Challenge Cup believing that standard was more appropriate. But Morrow said they would be having another go at the County Cup next season.

"I'm very proud of the players that I put out and if we'd had a full team we would have beaten them," he said.

"But if this is the standard of the competition I think we will be there or thereabouts again next season."

Nestl Rowntree, who were defeated by Kirkbymoorside in their County Cup semi-final, kept up the pressure on West Yorkshire League leaders Carlton by thrashing Mount St Mary's 7-0.

Steve Haddon (2), Rob Ellis (2), Steve Ward, Matty Wain and Jamie Whalen, with his first for the club, got the goals.

"It could have been more," said boss Jim Collis.

Updated: 12:57 Thursday, May 03, 2001