ANTHONY Winders' stoppage time winner gave Dorset Knob the verdict 2-1 in a magnificent Custom UPVC-sponsored M A Hart Page Croft Cup Final against cup holders Twynham Rangers at Hurn Bridge.

Dorset Knob had the better of the play in the early stages and Twynham goalkeeper Nick Pounds was soon called upon to keep the unbeaten Hayward Saturday League Division Three championship contenders at bay.

The young keeper raced out of his penalty area to deny Winders and he was soon off his line again to save brilliantly at the feet of Martin Sault.

Twynham began to use their pace in attack to good effect and Chris Forbes burst through on the right after exchanging passes with Mitchel Keet but Dorset Knob keeper Kevin Thorniley was quickly off his line to foil him. Forbes then battled with three defenders to get in a shot that whistled past the angle.

Twynham stunned Dorset Knob by taking the lead in the 25th minute. David Bratt won possession of the ball superbly 35 yards from goal and slipped it inside to Gareth Brickhill. The competition's leading marksman let fly from the edge of the box but the ball was deflected straight to the feet of Forbes who clinically slotted it past Thorniley.

There was more good work from Pounds in the Twynham goal as Dorset Knob came back in search of an equaliser and Paul Scadding went close when he slipped through to drill a shot just wide.

A quick break at blistering pace by Forbes and Brickhill had the Dorset Knob defence at full stretch to get the ball away for a corner then, on the stroke of half time, a long clearance from Pounds put Forbes clean through on goal but the Twynham skipper shot narrowly wide.

Pounds scrambled to hold a shot from Winders at the start of the second half and, after a Bratt header went just over the top at the other end, the Twynham keeper made another vital save when he managed to get an outstretched leg to the ball as Sean Read tried to slot it past him.

Dorset Knob levelled the scores in the 60th minute when referee Jon Pegram awarded a penalty following a mistimed challenge and substitute Jamie Corbin calmly tucked the spot kick into the corner of the net.

Twynham responded by stringing some good moves together and there was some particularly good work from left back Stuart Ellis.

Thorniley saved well from Brickhill and the Dorset Knob keeper then had to dive full length to push Lee Clark's long range effort round the post.

Clark came close to getting his name on the scoresheet at the wrong end when he sliced the ball played into the Twynham penalty area over his own cross bar and, from the resultant corner, Dorset Knob skipper Martin Beer's header cannoned against the bar.

Forbes looked to have restored Twynham's lead in the 76th minute when he rose to head a free kick towards the top corner of the net but Thorniley somehow managed to get a hand to the ball and claw it away.

With extra time looming, a 20-yard effort from Winders was held by the diving Pounds but, deep into stoppage time, ace Marksman Winders finally got the better of the Twynham keeper when he raced onto a through ball and steered it beyond Pounds and inside the far post.

Dorset Knob: Kevin Thorniley, Grant Payne (Nigel Halligan 54 mins), Michael Blythe, Stuart Corbin, Martin Beer, Paul Scadding (Jamie Corbin 54), Martin Sault, Wayne Smith (Stuart Beer 59), Anthony Winders, Sean Read, Narc Vincent. Unused subs: Curtis McAlinney and Andy Richardson.

Manager: Mike Excell. Assistant Manager: Adrian Bailey. Physio: Lee Cobb.

Twynham Rangers: Nick Pounds, Nick Fox (Alan Etherton 49), Stuart Ellis, Paul Johnson (Dan Whitehouse 49), Ben Stuart, Lee Etherton, Mitchel Keet (Wayne Etherton 85), Lee Clark, Gareth Brickhill, Chris Forbes, David Bratt.

Manager: Nick Pounds Senior. Coach & Physio: Dave Loney.

Referee: Jon Pegram. Assistants: Ray Brooks and Doug L Brown. Fourth Official: Richard Drake.

  • The Trophyman of Southampton Man of the Match, chosen by Tony Warren of match sponsors Custom UPVC Limited, was Dorset Knob central defender Stuart Corbin. Joint winners of the Arkon Securities-sponsored Leading Goalscorer in the competition were Gareth Brickhill (Twynham Rangers) and Anthony Winders (Dorset Knob) who both scored nine goals.