GALLANT Ashton proved more than a match for Offenham in normal time of last Sunday's Evesham Mechanical Services Subsidiary Cup final.

However, the top flight side turned the tables in extra-time when four goals secured a trophy for rampant Rovers.

The Division Four underdogs took a first half lead when Hunting netted and the Offenham followers were certainly worried when the interval arrived as their side looked to have to left their shooting boots at home.

The first division outfit needed a stroke of good fortune to make the tie all-square when Ashton's replacement keeper James Nicholas, who produced a series of fine stops, blocked a shot from Nick Burrows but the ball cannoned off the striker and rolled agonisingly across the line.

There were 20 minutes still left on the watch and the Ashton goal survived a couple of close calls as last-ditch clearances denied Rovers a winner.

It didn't take long for Offenham to grab the lead in overtime when Sollis finally put his side in the ascendancy with a second goal.

Ashton's heads never dropped but tiredness and injuries took their toll and, when Burrows banged in a neat third, the cup belonged to Rovers.

The second period of extra-time saw Burrows better his earlier efforts with a cracking 20-yarder to complete his hat-trick and it was left to Lee Tustin to fire in a fifth as Ashton's creaking defence opened up again.

Burrows also struck a post while the brave losers were also denied by the woodwork, while an eagle-eyed assistant referee's flag for offside cancelled out a late effort from the resilient losers.

The morning's solitary Evesham Sunday League fixture saw Broadway United Reserves defeat Moreton Town 4-1.

It was hardly the best warm-up for the Fire College boys, 8-2 winners over Tewkesbury Town the previous week, for this Sunday's GFA Cup final against Tuffley Tigers at Bishops Cleeve FC (10.30am).

Dyke (2), Alcock and Hawtree were the players to find the net for the winners.

Hampton WMC confirmed their supremacy of Division Four with an 18th straight league win.

Runners-up Bretforton Sports Old Boys made life difficult for the champions who netted through Rignall and Dipple. Allan Boulton replied for the losers with a strike from 40 yards.

Broadway also have a cup final date on Sunday, they face Pershore Town at Pershore Town's ground in the Pershore Hospital Charity Cup, kick-off 6pm.

Results

Evesham Mechanical Services Subsidiary Cup final: Offenham Rvrs 5, Ashton 1 (aet). Division Three: Broadway Utd Res 4, Moreton Tn 1. Division Four: Hampton WMC 2, Bretforton Spts OB 1.

Fixtures for Sunday

GFA Sunday Minor Cup final: Moreton Tn v Tuffley Tigers (Bourton Rovers FC, 10.30am). Pershore Hospital Charity Cup final (Sponsored by Pershore Retail Market): Pershore Tn Sunday v Broadway Utd Res (Pershore Tn FC, 7pm).

Thursday, May 13

Pershore Hospital Charity Cup final (Sponsored by Richard Williams Estate Agents): Kempsey Utd v The Bear (Pershore Tn FC, 7pm).