Barnard Castle’s first Wearside League Premier Division campaign ended with a hugely creditable fourth-place finish and an appearance in a cup final.
Sadly, the dream of sealing a superb season with a trophy ended in disappointment.
The bank holiday weekend got off to a flying start on Saturday with a clinical victory over Premier Division champions Seaton Carew Seniors.
Goals from Tai Saunders and Leo Buckle earned Barney a victory that lifted them above South Moor into fourth place, which represents an outstanding season’s work from a team that was promoted a year ago.
However, Stanley side South Moor gained revenge on Monday when they beat Barney 3-1 in the Alan Hood Charity Cup final at Tens Field.
More than 400 spectators attended the final, including a sizeable contingent of away supporters.
It was a case of what might have been for the hosts, who failed to convert several chances to take the lead in an otherwise tight, highly competitive first half.
The South Moor keeper kept out an early Ben Clark flick but was a spectator when a powerful Finlay Thomas shot smashed into the post on 14 minutes.
The keeper made an excellent save to tip over a dipping Tom Merryweather header in the 39th minute and Thomas couldn’t keep a first-time close range shot on target just before break.
There was a controversial incident late in the first half when an aerial challenge saw Lewis Robinson suffer a head injury that resulted in him being subbed at half-time and then having to go to hospital for a check-up and stitches.
Then, in first half stoppage time, South Moor grabbed the crucial first goal from a slick passing move that concluded with a ruthless finish from Drew Lake.
The visitors scored again early in the second half through Jonah Flewers following a mix-up in the Barney defence and a long-range strike from Dom Pegram just before the hour mark made it 3-0.
The home side kept plugging away and, in the 95th minute, scored a spectacular consolation goal through Leo Buckle, whose long-range strike flew over the keeper and under the crossbar.
After the match, Barnard Castle manager John Close said: “Congratulations to South Moor first and foremost, I think they played very well.
“We created three or four chances in that first half but unfortunately don’t take any of them. Then, unfortunately, the one time we don’t get our press right they managed to score and, in all fairness to them, it’s a great goal, it’s really good football, but it’s a sickener for us, especially as it’s just before half-time.”
On the controversial incident that ultimately resulted in Robinson being subbed, Close added: “It looked a very clear red card offence to me, their player led with his elbow. The referee said it was a clash of heads, but there was no injury to their player.
“The fourth official actually said to us that he saw it and that it was a leading elbow but he didn’t go and tell the referee.
“That doesn’t detract from South Moor’s victory, but that could have been a turning point in the game and it didn’t go our way, unfortunately.
“I thought our lads kept going all the way through, they were full of endeavour and it was nice to get a goal, I thought we deserved at least one goal.
“It’s been great to have a cup final here at Barnard Castle and I’d like to go on record and say thank you to all those who turned out.”
Reflecting on the season as a whole, Close says he’s delighted with the club’s achievements, which included Barney Reserves’ promotion to Division One of the North Riding League.
“Despite the cup final result, I’m very proud of this season,” he said. “It’s been a brilliant season, many congratulations to Scott and Carl who run the North Riding team, to win the second division at the first time of asking is a great achievement.
“And as for us, in our debut season, we finished fourth, and only Seaton Carew have conceded less goals.”
