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Frank Bainbridge Cup Final The Frank Bainbridge Cup Final for Division 1 clubs of The Hambleton Ales Football Combination was played at the Calvert Stadium, Northallerton on Thursday 8th April 2004, kick off 7.30pm, between North Yorks Unison and their derby rivals Northallerton Police. Both teams had played each other the previous Sunday in the League Cup semi final with North Yorks Unison winning 7-6 on penalties. Prior to the kick off a minutes silence was held in memory of local footballer Paul Kendrew (37yrs) who had died the previous week. The game started at a great pace and Unison had a great chance after a minute when a long ball into the Police penalty area fell to Mark Raw who put his shot wide of the upright from 10yards. Two mins later a Matthew Hill header fell to Raw but his 15yard right foot shot went wide of the angle of post and bar. Police hit back and took the lead after 9mins when Sam Vernalls passed to Curt Tasker on the right. He beat his marker and shot passed the advancing Neil Rooney in the Unison goal from 18 yards. Unison hit back after 24 mins Hill put Michael Robinson through, however, Police keeper Danny Yates made a fine save at his feet. A minute later Jimmy Raw shot wide when well placed. Three mins later Police went 2-0 up when Tasker received the ball on the right wing just in the Unison half. He pushed the ball past his marker, ran round him and as the centre half came across to cover he did the same to him and shot passed the advancing Rooney from 20 yards for a brilliant individual goal. Five mins later he received the ball 25 yards out in the centre of the pitch and chipped the keeper with an awesome lob to complete a fine hat trick. After 49mins Police were 4-0 up when an Ian Rayner throw fell to Chris Walker who passed to Vernalls on the right of the area and he hit a right foot screamer into the top corner of the net from 25 yards which gave Rooney no chance. Two mins later Unison pulled a goal back when Robinson passed to Darren Paul who made no mistake from 6 yards. Four mins later Yates made a fine save from a 20 yard Robinson free kick when he turned the ball for a corner. Unison were pressing for another goal but the Police defence held firm and Rayner and Simon Caukwell battling well in midfield. After 85mins Police made it 5-1 when Vernalls chased a through ball with a defender and the advancing keeper. In the tackle that ensued the ball fell to Vernalls who shot into an empty net from 8yds. Unison hit back and Nick Wilson reduced the arrears with a fine lob from 10 yards. Unison pressed for another goal and Yates made a fine save from Andrew McNichol but the ball was goalbound and Tasker cleared it off the line. The game was a fine advert for local football and was played in front of a good crowd of 200 people. After the game Hambleton Ales Football Combination league councillor Danny Bailey presented trophies to the match officials referee Chris Ryan, his assistants John Kelso and John Havelock and assistant referee Peter Addison. He presented runners up trophies to the Unison players and the Frank Bainbridge Cup to Police captain Mark Chisholm and winners medals to the Police team.
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