United Crowned Cup Champions After Derby Delight

Durham Corinthians vs Durham United

Alan Hood Charity Cup Final

Saturday 5th May 2025

Belle View Stadium

DH8 7BF

13:00

Written by Jonty Hughes-Penney

United capped off a stunning season in style with a thrilling 5–2 win over Durham Corinthians in the Alan Hood Charity Cup. In a spirited Wearside derby that lived up to the billing, United’s quality eventually told as they sealed a memorable league and cup double—their second silverware of the season.

The game began with United on the front foot, spurred on by the electric Thomas Boothroyd down the left flank. Within five minutes, Boothroyd had already made his presence felt, skinning his full-back for pace before switching play beautifully to Oscar Cooke. Cooke found Oscar Schuller bursting down the right, who squared across the six-yard box only for Corinthians to scramble the danger clear.

But in a moment that came against the run of play, United were punished for a lapse at the back. Ten minutes in, Corinthians’ No.11 John Bainbridge pressed high to win possession, and Yaya Jammeh pounced on the loose ball, slipping Bainbridge through to calmly slot into the bottom corner. 1–0 to Corinthians.

United, undeterred, responded resiliently. Just five minutes later, Chris Wild launched a long ball that Chris Seery did well to battle for, finding Boothroyd on the left. The wing-back drove infield and unleashed a deflected strike that caught the Corinthians keeper out at his near post. 1–1.

The intensity of the derby began to show. A squabble broke out after Seery won a free-kick and, moments later, a quick set piece led to another opening: Rory Edwards combined well with Schuller and Cooke down the right before a flurry of attempts saw Fin Gwillim and Schuller both denied by a heroic triple save from keeper Harry Renwick.

Gwillim was then chopped down, leading to more cries from the United bench, but the referee kept his cards in his pocket. United continued to press, with Cooke and Gwillim going close, with Gwillim driving a left-footed effort just high.

But it was Corinthians who regained the lead in the 38th minute. A high turnover on the right allowed Bainbridge to deliver a devilish low ball into the corridor of uncertainty, where Alfie Jordan ghosted in at the back post to prod home. 2–1.

Boothroyd, however, was far from finished. On the stroke of half-time, he danced between two Corinthians defenders, pulling out a roulette before Cruyff-turning his marker and finding Schuller, whose lay-off to Gwillim led to a shot blazed narrowly over.

Moments later, Gwillim found himself in hot water, receiving a yellow after a collision sparked by a theatrical fall from the Corinthians centre-back. United pressed again before the whistle, with Seery attempting an audacious overhead kick that dribbled wide. Despite trailing 2–1 at the break, United looked the more dangerous side and went into the dressing room full of belief.

Half-Time: Durham Corinthians 2 - 1 Durham United

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Belief turned to dominance early in the second half. Just five minutes in, United’s trio of Boothroyd, Seery and Schuller combined superbly to level the score. Boothroyd found Seery in space, who showed quick feet in the box to drill a low cross that Schuller poked home from five yards. 2–2.

Boothroyd’s influence only grew. He was relentless up and down the flank—defending, attacking, and floating dangerous balls into the box. Around the hour mark, he beat two men and released Seery down the line, whose cross won United a corner. What followed was sheer magic.

The initial delivery was cleared to the edge of the box, where Schuller fizzed a pass back to Edwards by the corner flag. Edwards shrugged off one challenge, rolled the ball past another, and from an impossibly tight angle, curled the ball into the top corner. A moment of individual brilliance from the ex-Crystal Palace academy man—3–2.

Ten minutes later, Boothroyd again dispossessed his man and set Edwards away. Edwards found Seery, who slipped it to the tireless Boothroyd on the overlap. His first-time cross was perfect for Gwillim, who rose athletically to head home across goal and into the top corner. 4–2.

The boys pose with the (absolutely massive) trophy

Gwillim remained at the heart of the action, nearly triggering a counter before being penalised for a handball. His kick of the ball in frustration after the whistle drew protests, but the referee showed leniency.

With five minutes to go, Boothroyd again produced magic—winning the ball near his own box, burning down the left in a Gareth Bale-esque burst, cutting inside, and floating an inch-perfect cross to substitute Phil Kay. Kay took it down masterfully and rifled into the bottom corner. 5–2, game over.

The Old Guard

There was still time for one more dazzling run from Gwillim and a near miss at the death, but the final whistle soon sounded. Durham United had done it—a commanding second-half display sealed a 5–2 victory and the Alan Hood Charity Cup, capped off with jubilant celebrations and the lifting of the competition's enormous trophy.

League champions. Cup champions. A double-winning season for Durham United. Roll on 2025/26!

Full-Time: Durham Corinthians 2 - 5 Durham United

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Player of the Match: Tom Boothroyd:
An inspired performance, Boothroyd was everywhere—rampaging down the left, defending tirelessly, floating in dangerous crosses, and he scored a crucial equaliser. His performance echoed that of Lamine Yamal in the recent Champions League semi-final: fearless, technical, relentless. Whether weaving past defenders, executing roulettes, or sparking attacks from deep, he embodied everything that made United champions.

Line-Up: Harry Archer; Chris Wild; Morgan Lant (c); Ellis Challinor; Oscar Cooke; Tom Boothroyd (Goal); Alex Dinan; Rory Edwards (Goal); Oscar Schuller (Goal); Chris Seery; Fin Gwillim (Goal, Yellow Card)

Substitutes: Patrick Dixon; Ollie England; Charlie Bramwell; Sebastian Hopkins; Phil Kay (Goal)

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