Cox, who plays for Haltwhistle Jubilee on a Sunday morning, reacted to head home from a rebound to earn his Northern League side a crucial 2-1 win over Wearside League side Prudhoe Town.
After two consecutive 1-0 victories, Town went into the game needing any kind of result to progress, but the loss meant that unbeaten Ryton scraped through by one point, Prudhoe’s 5-4 victory in following shoot-out proving scant consolation after losing the previous two.
It was a close run thing played under the floodlights at Ryton’s Northern League stadium, neither side managing to find the breakthrough during a hard fought first half.
Ryton took the lead from the penalty spot on the hour mark, though, Brannon Patterson keeping his cool from 12 yards to put his side ahead.
The lead lasted just five minutes as Town striker Ste Forster found the back of the net to put his side back in control at the top of Group B.
However, their hearts were to be broken when Cox planted his header home, the victory setting up a date with Ponteland United, at Ponteland, in Wednesday’s final.
It was a second successive 2-1 success for Ryton after they defeated Prudhoe YC Seniors by the same scoreline on Monday evening.
Dylan Cornish and Liam Barker put them two goals to the good, and they survived a late rally from Prudhoe despite Andrew Smith hitting the back of the net.
Prudhoe Town were looking good value to progress as they worked hard in their opening two games, beating both Prudhoe YC and Hexham 1-0 to top the group going into the last round of games.
Their game with Hexham was an entertaining fixture despite the lack of goals, both teams showing in spells that they are ready to make an impact when the season kicks off next month.
Prudhoe looked likely to break the deadlock as they showed more purpose early in the encounter, a great run and cross from Forster desperate for a touch but missing everybody at the back post by a matter of millimetres.
They nearly benefited from a moment of good fortune as an attempted clearance by the grounded Nathan Riley bounced off striker Tom Thirlwell and looped towards goal, to be well saved by Charlie Weatherhead in the Hexham goal.
Hexham grew into the game and created a number of quick chances, Will Forsyth’s 25 yard volley was well struck but saved by Shaun Green while Robbie Pattinson headed Forsyth’s tantalising corner just wide.
Yet it was Prudhoe who went into the break with a slight advantage, benefiting from an own goal.
Good feet from David Burns played Cameron Tait in down the left, and his drilled cross needed just a touch to be diverted goalwards. Unfortunately for young Hexham full back Hamish Forsyth, that touch came from him and flew past Weatherhead.
Elder brother Will was in the thick of things moving Hexham on and, on the stroke of half time, he played in Tom North who asked questions of Green with a first time effort on his left foot, the Prudhoe stopper equal to it.
Hexham’s new gaffer Jamie Williams was afforded the opportunity to give a number of his 17 and 18-year-old players a taste of senior football, and they caught the eye with a brilliant second half performance.
They played some excellent, free flowing football at times and were on top during the second period as they went close on a number of occasions.
The duo of Joe Hughes and Alex Martin were just unable to capitalise on Green spilling a ball with the sun in his eyes, while Brad Rowell teed up Matt Wilson, whose well drilled effort was well saved.
Prudhoe looked dangerous on the break though and had two golden opportunities to put the game to bed, Sam Mannion wanting more time than he had as Forster put him through in a great position.
Minutes later, an excellent pass with his outside of his boot in his own box from the cool Mannion sent Forster in again.
He squared the ball for strike partner Liam Henderson, who was unable to find the target when well placed.
Hexham were still pushing and Pattinson hit an excellent long range effort on goal which Green couldn’t hold onto, a defensive header clearing the danger and seeing Town to the three points.
The spot kicks in the following shoot-out were classy, the youngsters of Hexham keeping their cool as Kurtis Harvey, Callum Thomas, Lewis Loughhead, Callum Duncan, Pattinson, Rowell, Ali Chilton and Martin all converted in the 8-7 success.
For Town, Henderson, Forster, Josh Brooks, Mannion, David Wansell, Tait and Luke Watson scored, with Mick Rankin hitting the bar and Thirlwell sending the deciding pen over the top.
Hexham ended their Clayton Cup campaign with a goalless draw with Prudhoe YC, this time losing the shoot-out 5-4.
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