An entertaining early season encounter saw the hosts home by the odd goal in3 on the plastic surface of the Emplas Community North Stadium. The visitors were fielding a much changed line up from last season and fell behind on 13 minutes as Matty Barlow's flick header sent Danny McLaughlin running clear on goal from where Taylor made a good block only for Flynn's subsequent corner to go straight into the Ashton goal.

7 minutes later Flynn's right wing cross saw hesitation in the visiting goal with Jordan Lazenbury on hand to convert from 10 yards out and approaching the interval Lazenbury's near post effort was saved after he latched on to Edson Catar's pass. Right on half time Reece Kendall's left wing cross saw Edghill collide wih his own keeper leaving Willoughby with an unguarded net which saw Dean pull off a miraculous goalline clearance.

Just past the hour mark Catar made space before steering too high before Alex Byrne's long range free kick force a tipaway from Culkin which led to Byrne's corner being headed home at the far post by a triallist who had come off the bench. Darius Osei then released John Lufudu into the area from where he steered over under pressure and after another triallist had been fouled by Lewis Lacey 35 yards out Willoughby's free kick rebounded away off the crossbar.

With 8 minutes left a raking effort from distance by Beckman forced a tip away from Taylor and 2 minutes later Willoughby thought he had equalised as he headed home Byrne's deep cross only to be flagged offside. The final action saw the triallist who had scored for Ashton head Byrne's long free kick on to the top of the crossbar as the hosts held on to pick up the trophy.

Team: Taylor, Lufudu, Kendall, Cogill, Spooner, Johnson, Byrne, Willoughby, Hardy, Okome, O'Neill.
Subs: Knight, Osei, Chmiel & 4 trialists.

- David Robinson