• About the competition

The North Riding Senior Cup is a competition that involves most teams from North Yorkshire, who, each year, contest to come out on top, in the final that has been held at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on quite a few recent occasions.

The current holders are Marske United, who won the cup for the second time after thrashing Thornaby United 6-0 at Teesdale Park.

For the first time, this year’s North Riding Senior Cup final will be held at the LNER Community Stadium, home of York City.

York however, won’t be participating in the prestigious final at their own ground, having been victim to a 4-1 drubbing at Whitby Town earlier in the season.

  • About the teams


The teams that are taking part include Northern Premier League playoff contenders Scarborough Athletic, and Northern League Division One outfit Guisborough Town.

  • Journey so far

Scarborough, who have already confirmed their playoff spot, with a chance of promotion to National League North, have had to overcome three other North Yorkshire-based teams to progress this far in the county cup.

Redcar Town 2-6 Scarborough Athletic

Entering the competition in the second round back in November, Boro were faced with the task of travelling to and beating Redcar Town. It didn’t seem to be as easy as anticipated for the visitors as Town struck first in the 29th minute. However, The Seadogs managed to come from behind to claim an astonishing 6-2 away win.

Scarborough Athletic 1-0 Whitby Town

The impressive result in the previous round fired Scarborough through to the quarter-finals, setting up a feisty tie, rivals Whitby Town being the team to beat this time. It was to be a slightly harder contest than the last match, against fellow Northern Premier League side Whitby.

Watched on by a 1,066 strong crowd, the game looked to be heading for an evenly fought stalemate, but only for a Boro goal, three minutes from time. Kieran Glynn’s surging run through the middle ended in him squaring it to striker James Day, who calmly slotted it into the bottom left corner to win the game.

A Scarborough man tries a shot (Photo: Morgan Exley)
A Scarborough man tries a shot (Photo: Morgan Exley)

Redcar Athletic 1-3 Scarborough Athletic

Then it was semi-final time, and yet another team from Redcar stood in front of Scarborough. Redcar Athletic this time - and the hosts with no North Riding Senior Cup titles to their name yet, were desperate to make it to the final. But Boro boss Jono Greening fielded a strong side too, in order for his seaside team to make it past the final stage.

For a matter of time, it looked like The Steelmen were heading for York after leading from the 32nd minute, but the visitors made opportunities count 13 minutes into the second half, and found the equaliser through star man Luca Colville, before James Cadman put The Seadogs in front ten minutes later. James Day was back at it again in the semis, with a late goal to seal the tie.

 

Guisborough Town 1-1 Middlesbrough U23's (Guisborough win 4-3 on penalties)

With Scarborough Athletic already a confirmed finalist, it was time for Guisborough Town to make their move. On entering in the second round, the five-time winners were given one of the hardest draws - they hosted Middlesbrough U23’s in a hopeful bid to progress to the quarters. Guisborough had the chance to open the scoring after just twelve minutes, but couldn’t convert from the penalty spot.

However, maybe there was to be an upset on the cards as moments later, Joseph Bartliff dinked the Middlesbrough ‘keeper, putting The Priorymen 1-0 up. The hosts were unable to see their impressive lead out though, as Boro’s Alberto Balde slotted it into the bottom corner to take the game to a penalty shootout. Fast forward to the scores level at 3-3, and the away side’s fifth penalty taker had had his spot-kick saved. To win the game, Guisborough substitute Keelan Wright-Simpson stepped up and buried his penalty.

Pickering Town 3-4 Guisborough Town

A quarter-final tie set up an interesting contest away at Pickering Town for The Priorymen. Pickering took the lead through Billy Logan 14 minutes in, but were soon pegged back, double the minutes later. Joseph Bartliff headed in from close range to bring the visitors back into the tie and keep the scores level at the break.

The second half saw The Pikes start the same way they did in the first, scoring early on, and regaining the lead with a Rafael Ferreira strike. Just 10 minutes after, the Pickering ‘keeper failed to punch the ball clear, allowing James Dillon to equalise once more. With 69 minutes gone, the hosts took the lead for the third time in the game, as they went 3-2 up thanks to a tap-in from Omar Sangyang. 

It wasn't over there though, as, despite being reduced to ten men, late goals from Guisborough’s Luke Smithyman and Sam Webster allowed the visitors to come from behind and take the lead for the first time in the match, coincidentally winning it in the process.

Guisborough Town 1-0 Marske United

That astounding result meant Guisborough were through to the semi-finals, and they battled it out for a place in the final with Marske United. Favourites Marske weren’t at their very best in the Guisborough snowstorms, and The Priorymen found the crucial winner 12 minutes from time, as Keelan Wright-Simpson scored a cracker for his second of the competition.

  • Match info

With both Scarborough Athletic and Guisborough Town respectively making their way to the final, it has recently been announced that the face-off will take place at York’s brand-new LNER Community Stadium on Wednesday 4th May (7:30pm kickoff).

Tickets are now available, via the SMC (York Stadium Management Company), and you can purchase them HERE for the following prices:

Adults: £8

Concessions/Over 65: £4

There are no current details on live video streaming to date. However, you can expect live commentary via Scarborough's local radio station 'This is the Coast Extra'.