Camden Tavern cup dream ends

Camden Tavern 2, Delaneys 5 (aet)

Delaneys completed a dramatic turnaround to walk away from Carrow Road with the Norfolk Sunday Senior Cup after a remarkable victory on Sunday.

Losing 2-1 to Great Yarmouth League outfit Camden Tavern with only seconds remaining, it looked as though Delaneys were heading towards cup final defeat for the second season running - until a stunning free-kick from substitute Neil Simmons in the third minute of injury time.

The equaliser breathed new life into the Norwich side and they struck a hat-trick of blows in extra-time to claim the cup.

Camden Tavern's early dominance was rewarded when Andy Gleave was adjudged to have brought down Gary Todd and Darren Cockrill - fresh from his FA Vase exploits with Lowestoft Town the day before - neatly dispatched the spot kick.

Camden doubled their lead on the half-hour mark when Gleave's under-hit back pass was intercepted by Todd, who nipped in to finish.

With the words of manager Graham Challen ringing in their ears, the Delaneys' players started the second half with renewed belief and Andy Eastaugh headed into the top corner from a pinpoint Kristian Gleave cross after 57 minutes.

It looked as though Delaneys would fail to force extra-time - until Simmons stepped up with his last-gasp effort.

Both teams started to tire in extra time and Camden were dealt a body blow when Louis Turner was sent off for a second booking.

And as the pressure began to tell, Simmons replicated his earlier exploits as he curled a peach of a free-kick into the top corner.

Things went from bad to worse for Camden when Luke Goreham was shown a straight red for handling on the line. And although Mark Casey prevented Simmons from claiming his hat-trick from the spot, Oliver King buried the rebound.

Playing against nine men, King still had time to notch his second as he tapped in from close range.