Corey McKeown scored both goals as Moors clinched their place in the Durham Challenge Cup Final with a 2-0 win over Dunston at The UTS Stadium on Tuesday night.

Whilst the scoreline would suggest a routine win for Jason Ainsley’s men, but the hosts performed well and made sure that Moors did not have it all their own way on a tricky playing surface.

Indeed, it was Dunston who looked the more likely to open the scoring early on and only a fine save from Harry Flatters down low to his left prevent Terry Galbraith from nodding the home side in front.

Moors could have gone ahead just before the half hour mark when a precise through ball from Mark Anderson found Connor Shanks who turned sharply to shoot only to see his drive held by Dunston keeper James Anderson.

However, the home keeper had no chance on 32 minutes when an incisive move down the right involving Connor Shanks and Lebrun Mbeka saw Dunston fail to fully clear and McKeown was well placed to convert from close range.

Dunston started the second half well and a free kick from the left caused a moment of panic inside the Moors penalty area and a scramble ensued before Ainsley’s side were able to clear the danger.

Mark Anderson whipped a free kick over the wall from 25 yards to test his namesake in the Dunston goal who just about kept it out at the second time of asking.

However, Moors did go 2-0 up on 61 minutes. A corner in from the left was only half cleared and McKeown collected it on the edge of the box before placing a wonderful low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Flatters then pulled off an astonishing save to protect Moors’ clean sheet as a scramble inside the area saw the ball prodded towards the top corner where the young stopper somehow stretched to claw it clear.

Substitute Reece Kendall grazed the post with a long-range effort for Moors, while Connor Shanks was denied late on by a wonderful piece of defending from Jude Swailes who blocked when it looked a certain goal.

Full Time: Dunston 0 Moors 2

Dunston: Anderson, Baxter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Swailes, Shaw, Jenkins, Jensen (Pearson 54), Finnigan (Djalo 69), Thear (Jensen 54), Coulson.
Subs not used: Scott, Staples, Elliott, Pearson, Djalo.

Booked: Swailes (55)

Moors: Flatters (Langley 89), Wombwell, Tait, Faulkner, Thompson, Anderson, Mbeka (Ramshaw 66), Ravenhill (Kendall 76), McKeown (Mouat 89), Shanks, Snelgrove.
Sub not used: Curtis.

Booked: Thompson (21).

Referee: Andrew Miller.

Attendance: 245