THE Trowbridge & District League were indebted to Melksham Town FC for a third time this season as they returned to The Conigre on Thursday evening for the final of the CDP Supply-sponsored Centenary Remembrance Cup.

After two exciting semi-finals, which saw North Bradley defeat Hilperton United 2-0 and Semington Magpies claim a shock 4-3 extra-time win over Bradford United, the scene was set for what promised to be an exciting meeting between Magpies and Bradley.

Semington were unable to reproduce their form from early April as Bradley, who threatened to run havoc throughout the game, ran out 5-1 winners.

Bradley bossed the opening exchanges and went close to taking the lead on five minutes, Ali Bradley’s rasping 25-yard drive just flying inches past the post.

On 12 minutes, they really should have been in front after Reuben Spong opted to fire straight at keeper Ricky King rather than squaring the ball to the unmarked Scott Askew.

Bradley's Dan Dominy blasted over from distance in the 16th minute and a few minutes later, Askew had a header turned over the bar by keeper King.

It was too be Askew who broke the deadlock on 24 minutes -his shot from 25 yards somehow finding its way into the back of the Magpies net.

The Magpies had their first sight at Bradley’s goal on 30 minutes but Sean Meer’s effort was more in hope than anything else as it failed to test keeper Stuart Powell.

Bradley went back on the attack and Carl Davies was the next to try his luck but his effort failed to trouble keeper King, who had to be alert shortly afterwards when Matt Jones headed a Pete Spong cross just wide.

The action switched to the other end and Semington almost snatched an equaliser when the outstretched leg of Ali Bradley saw him almost put the ball into his own net and from the resulting corner, Andy Harrison fired into the side netting.

Pete Spong saw his deflected cross wrong-foot keeper King but the ball dropped wide of the target.

With half-time approaching, it looked as if all Bradley would have to show for their dominance would be Askew's goal but the match was as good as over by the break as Reuben Spong doubled his side's lead with a well-struck effort and minutes later, the ball dropped kindly to Askew, who fired home his second of the evening from eight yards to give Bradley a 3-0 interval lead.

Semington made a much better start to the second half and were inches away from reducing the arrears on 50 minutes, Chris Dore heading a Andy Harrison free-kick onto the bar.

Bradley thought they had a fourth in the 60th minute when Reuben Spong's effort was ruled out for offside but six mintues later, substitute Steve Jackson made it 4-0.

For a second time in the game, Reuben Spong had a goal chalked off, and with 15 minutes remaining, Semington scored a consolation goal when Chris Berrelly’s free-kick took a wicked deflection before beating keeper Powell.

Semington's Dore went close with another free-kick for Semington but after that, it was mostly all-Bradley as they looked for goal number five.

Reuben Spong though he had got it in the 85th minute but somehow, his effort was kept out, even if it did look to many in the ground as if it had already crossed the line.

With time running out, Semington had Berrelly sent off and Bradley managed to score a fifth goal to cap a five-star perfomance, with Reuben Spong finally finding the net when he prodded the ball home following a fine team move. 

Bradley’s winning captain Darren Jones picked up the Centenary Remembrance Cup from Lawrence Giles and Tom Parr, who presented on behalf of sponsors CDP Supply.

North Bradley's Matt Jones was named player of the final.

The competition was introduced at the end of January to give Division One sides extra games following the withdrawal of both Bradford News and Steeple Ashton.

It was named to commemorate the centenary of the First World War and to remember all those former players and officials of the league who lost their lives in two World Wars and in subsequent conflicts, and also those who returned from those wars never able to play or enjoy football again.