TWO late extra-time goals lifted the inaugural Norman Simmons Senior Cup for Cross Keys following an excellent final in front of a very large crowd at Ledbury Town FC on Sunday.

The two teams produced a game worthy of the special occasion which saw Cross Keys triumph by 4-2 over Oak Allstars.

Oak Allstars chose to kick up the slope and in the 10th minute the first real chance fell to Cross Keys. Ed Lyons chipped the keeper only to see Anthony Bradford make a goal-line clearance. Cross Keys had the better of early play and Adam McTear made a good save from a Rob Cullen effort before Oak Allstars produced their first real shot after 25 minutes, with Jamie James sending a shot narrowly wide.

In the 38th minute ,Lyons and Cullen combined for a well-worked free-kick which saw the latter's shot just clear the bar. Oak were grateful to Adam McTear a minute later when he bravely saved at the feet of Duncan Preedy.

Cross Keys eventually took the lead in the second minute of added time as a Steve Brookes cross somehow went under Adam McTear and Ed Lyons netted from close range.

It did not take Oak Allstars long to equalise as in the 47th minute, keeper Craig Humphries mispunched a corner from Jamie Gladwin and the ball fell to Lee Clueit who made no mistake from six yards out.

Cross Keys regained the lead in the 55th minute when Rob Cullen was bought down in the area and got up to score from the spot. The game swung from end to end with the Oak Allstars pushing forward for the equaliser, which eventually came in the 80th minute when James Dean volleyed home.

Both sides went for the winner with Anthony Bradford twice going close for Oak Allstars. In the 88th minute Cross Keys' Steve Brookes sent in a free-kick which struck the cross-bar, bounced up in the air and came back down on top of the bar before going out for a corner.

The game went into extra-time and Adam McTear had to be at his best to first thwart the onrushing Rob Cullen and then push a 40-yard free-kick from Mike Cole over the bar. At the other end, Craig Humphries also made a couple of good saves but just as it seemed penalties were going to be needed, Cross Keys grabbed a goal with three minutes left when Cullen superbly flicked-in a corner from Steve Brookes.

Man-of-the-match Rob Cullen then wrapped the game up when he received a clearance and his pass found Ed Lyons, who made no mistake.

At the final whistle both sets of players were fulsome in congratulating each other after a game that was a credit to thesoccersite.co.uk Malvern League before Cross Keys skipper Damian Lloyd stepped forward to receive the new trophy, named in honour of her late husband, from Christine Simmons.