LATE controversy shrouded Prudhoe YC Seniors’ well earned 3-2 victory over fifth placed Red Row Welfare.

The hosts thought they had found an 88th minute equaliser but, after consulting with his linesman, the referee ruled it out due to an offside infringement elsewhere in the move.

The decision meant Sean Brown’s strike with 15 minutes remaining was the winning one, the striker capping a man of the match display as he swept home Darren Graham’s low cross.

With both teams having won one game each at 4-3 in their previous two meetings this season, a close game was expected.

And Prudhoe were only too well aware of Red Row’s attacking threat as they took to the field with former Newcastle United reserve Phil Airey and Brad McClelland, a striker with top North East Sunday League side Amble Tavern.

The first half was an eventful affair with Red Row going close after three minutes, and Sam Brown heading over a Lee Blackburn cross for Prudhoe soon after.

Airey then threatened for the first time on 10 minutes as he broke clear and rounded Ryan Chambers, but miskicked his effort and watched it sail wide of the mark.

Prudhoe responded well with Matty Robinson and Phil Murray both going close.

Danny Driver then connected with a Robinson corner and forced the home goalkeeper into a good save, the danger being cleared as there was no Prudhoe bodies around to react to the spill.

Moments later, Sean Brown made a promising run and pulled the ball back across goal only for the chance to go begging.

Somehow, the teams went into the break goalless. However, things were going to change dramatically in the second half.

The half was just two minutes old when Sean Brown got behind the defence and put the ball on a plate for the incoming Jack Bell at the back post, but he failed to connect cleanly and, from a yard out, the ball went wide.

His blushes were spared on 55 minutes when Robinson collected a ball and switched the play to Brown, and he pulled it back for Robinson who had continued his run to despatch the ball from 10 yards.

Prudhoe looked comfortable but the game was turned on its head in a dramatic two minute spell, Airey racing onto a long ball to slot past Chambers just before the half hour. Just two minutes later, Airey again was behind the defence but was bundled over in the area by Sam Brown. The ex-Newcastle man made no mistake from 12 yards out.

Prudhoe’s leveller was a spectacular one, Robinson and Sean Brown again combining for the latter to clip a ball into the area where Driver rose and sent a sensational overhead kick past the home goalkeeper.

It was then over to Brown to find the winner on 75 minutes, before the late drama saw Red Row denied a point.