Four Crosses rounded off a memorable season by lifting the Montgomeryshire Cup following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Llansantffraid on Wednesday, May 30.

Two days after lifting the league cup with a similarly narrow victory over Waterloo Rovers at Treflan, Crosses made it double delight to close out their campaign after racing into an early lead before mounting a determined rear-guard action.

Both sides illuminated a gloomy Recreation Field, Llanrhaeadr, serving up a full-blooded affair which was to prove to be a terrific advert for local football in the county.

But it was Four Crosses who were out of the blocks quickest when Harry Davies latched on to Jake Edwards slide rule pass to give Crosses an early lead against their Spar Mid Wales Division two opponents.

And it got better for the Foxen Manor outfit moments later when Dylan Ellis slotted home from the spot to double their advantage and leave them 2-0 to the good after twenty minutes.

Llansantffraid will be left to reflect on what might have been, as they gamely battled back after half time to enjoy the majority of second half possession, but were found wanting in the final third.

The breakthrough looked like it had arrived with twenty minutes left on the clock when Chris Aitken found himself in space in the Four Crosses penalty area, but he blazed his effort wide when well placed to score.

But the pressure finally told on 83 minutes when Tom Gale headed home a corner from close range to give the Saints a glimmer of hope, but despite mounting wave after wave of pressure, they were unable to find a breakthrough to force the game into extra time in the fading Llanrhaeadr evening light.

Four Crosses manager Mike Barton said he was delighted his side had held out, but admitted that having watched his side let a 2-0 lead slip in Monday's game before eventually coming back to win, he didn't feel comfortable at 2-1.

"We went 2-0 up early on and we said at half time that we didn't want to do it again, we made hard work of Monday, but we dug in today.

"They deserved their goal but I think we defended brilliantly." he said

"Defending hasn't really been our forte this season, we've said all season we've given a few silly goals away, but today we didn't do that and we got our rewards."

Full report, reaction and more pictures will appear in next week's County Times.