“Buckland 3rds emulated their 'more senior' teams by adding a third trophy to their cabinet, in recent weeks. With the Firsts lifting the Throgmorton Cup, their Seconds the DCFA Senior Cup, it seemed fitting the Thirds should chip in with the Fred Hewings Cup.

  “Watched by a crowd of approximately 200, the balance of play moved from one team to the other throughout the evening. 'Kerswell opened with a second minute chance that saw Liam Halliday being sent through on goal by Elliot Crook. Buckland 'keeper, Lee Davis did well to smother the ball at Halliday's feet. Minutes later Buckland forward Mal Douglas was guilty of a glaring miss as he placed his header wide when just seven yards out. With Paul Sharples, the big front-man was a constant threat and took only another 6 minutes to atone for the miss. Sharples deftly nodded the ball on and, using his body strength, Douglas surged into 'Kerswell's box but then scuffed his shot. That was still enough for the ball to evade Aplin and settle itself in the net. With their star in the ascendancy, Buckland continued to press and scored a second within five minutes. Davis gathered a back pass and punted the ball well up field. Sharples controlled the ball on the edge of 'Kerswell's area and thrashed it past Aplin. The second goal seemed to awaken Kingskerswell and they started to exert their own pressure, to be rewarded almost immediately when Graham Haywood set himself to fire the ball home from the left edge of Buckland's box. A goal from nowhere but it had the desired effect of raising the team and those on their bench. Lloyd Falconer's on target free-kick was fisted away by Davis, Halliday came into his own with some probing runs at Bucks' defence and Haywood was taken out by Fordham when lining up a cross, the Buckland man being lucky to walk away with just a talking-to.

  “The early period of the second half saw 'Kerswell continuing to press for an equaliser, driven on by Alex Crook, with Elliot Crook threatening alongside Halliday. Buckland soaked up the pressure confidently and their sheer size meant many of the Kings' balls forward were to no avail. Gradually, Buckland re-took control and Aplin was pressed into action several times in quick succession. Without having to make 'world class' saves, the 'Kerswell 'keeper dealt well with efforts from Ben Cowling and Dan Harry, before Douglas somehow side-footed the ball wide from Holmes's cross. Had he taken this and the earlier chance, Douglas would have had a hat-trick but had to be content with his single before coming off with time running out. 'Kerswell had made a flurry of changes mid-way through the half but were unable to break down a resolute defence before time ran out.

  “Both teams had contributed to a tough but well matched game, refereed comfortably by Keith Hawkins and hosted superbly by Watts Blake Bearne.

  “The trophies were handed out by match sponsor Ashley Mathews, of Coast & Country Estate Agents, and his son William.”