THE 46th final of the reebrooks print media sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup may not have been the best game ever witnessed at Corsham Town’s Southbank Ground but it kept the healthy crowd on it’s toes and had a couple of talking points.

Premier Division Bug & Spider came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over first division FC Jager and deny Barry Holloway’s side the first part of a what would have been a unique treble. Marcus Lovesey’s Bug & Spider bossed the opening five minutes and missed three gilt-edged chances to take the lead.

Jager’s keeper Gareth Evans miscued a clearance on two minutes leading to a corner which Neurin Jones headed inches over.

Another corner from Steve Allison found the head of Aaron Hopkins but his effort like Jones’ flashed just wide of the target.

On 14 minutes a ambitious 25 yard drive was gathered well by keeper Evans.

At the other end chances were few and far between for Jager with James Eatough probably having their best, But against the run of play on 35 minutes Jager took the lead.

Bug & Spider keeper Jamie Bartlett produced a superb save to keep out Nathan Walker’s initial shot, but he could only parry the ball onto the post where the spin took into the net for 1-0.

Jager had the chance to make it 2-0 but Eatough was off target for a second time.

Neurin Jones had a great opportunity to draw Bug & Spider level in the 39th minute but, after a poor clearance from keeper Evans, he failed to make him pay when his weak effort from close range came to nothing.

Bug & Spider finally buried one of their first-half chances and the goal was worth the wait. An inch-perfect delivery from Liam Brown picked out Steve Allison at the back post who rose unchallenged to power home a header over a helpless Evans.

Jager made a change at the start of the second half brought on Sean Meer for James Eatough, but it didn’t change the pattern of the game as Bug & Spider started the half as they had first the first.

On 52 minutes another chance went begging for Lovesey’s side with Mark Smith hitting the side netting.

A few minutes later Stuart Greener was in the right place to clear a Smith effort of the line and on 57 minutes Aaron Hopkins was left unmarked but blasted over when he really should have made it 2-1.

In the 65th minute it was the turn of Jager to have a chance at goal, keeper Bartlett did well to smother a close range effort from Meer and Dan Moore was unable to trouble the keeper from the rebound.

Moore was next to try his luck for Jager when he broke into the area but saw his effort turned out for a corner.

At this stage Jager were having their best period of the game and on 75 minutes only a brilliant save from keeper Bartlett thwarted Rob Manning.

With six minutes remaining Mark Smith’s cross picked out Mark Dolman who had been quiet for most of the game.

But the striker brought the ball under control with his first touch and unleashed a spectacular 25 yard drive over keeper Gareth Evans and into the net to give Bug & Spider a deserved 2-1 lead.

Jager’s players believed Dolman to be offside when he received the ball but the goal was allowed to stand.

With Jager throwing bodies forward looking for an equaliser they were denied a penalty in the dying seconds when Alex Lewis appeared to bring down Ashley Barnett.

But again Jager’s appeals were waved away and soon after the final brought the game to a close to leave Bug & Spider celebrating a famous win that would have gone some way to making up for the WG Parr Trophy final loss on the same ground a year ago.

After the game, League Chairman Andy Hiller presented the teams with their mementoes for the game and winning captain Mark Smith with the Eric Hughes Memorial Knock Out cup.

Jager’s Carl Harfield was the player of the final.

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