UPLYME Football Club completed a memorable season when their young Reserves team took part in the John Fowler Cup final which finally took place as rank outsiders against and Penmill Athletic United , after a lengthy delay due to an appeal from losing semi finalists Combe St Nicholas.

The gap between Uplyme's final league game of the season and the final was almost three weeks and the coaching team of Pete Blandamer and Steve Gillan feared the young squad would be a little rusty in the opening half.

As predicted, Penmill started very strongly and probed the spaces behind Uplyme's full backs early, using the Perry Street pitch to good effect. Uplyme's passing wasn't finding feet in the centre of the pitch and this led to going a goal behind.

The midfielder three of Symonds, Pennington and Foster were struggling to impose themselves on the dominant Penmill players, but they knuckled down and, with 35 minutes gone, Alex Pennington chested the ball down on an angle 30 yards out.

With no real crossing angle, he set himself and struck a half-volley that was laser-straight and rising as it ripped past the keeper and struck the top corner for an incredible equaliser.

Penmill came back before half-time and struck again to lead into the break.

After an intense and frank team-talk, the young squad were absolutely transformed in the second half and started to believe they could get back in the match.

Travelling support erupted

On 60 minutes, Nate Gillan made a great block on the edge of his own box and drove forward from left back. He sent a curling ball down the line and Joe Urquhart latched onto it. He had been switched to centre forward and suddenly Rikky Toyer, Penmill's excellent centre back, couldn't adjust his feet to account for Urquhart 's run inside. He hit a rising drive into the roof of the net and the travelling support erupted.

At 2 - 2, it was all Uplyme and Sam Foster saw the keeper off his line and hit a first-time strike from over 40 yards that cannoned back off the crossbar. It felt like extra-time would be needed, but Uplyme had more.

In the last five minutes, Brad Bowditch broke onto a through ball, making the keeper pull off a great save. Marcus Symonds picked up the loose ball and jinked past two players and, with the keeper to beat, instead pulled the ball back intelligently. Urquhart raced in front of his marker and lashed it home to send the players wild.

Penmill threw everything forward but Heath, Lawrence, Tate and Gillan stood resolute at the back. With seconds to go, a Penmill clearance fell to Foster who coolly slotted home first time from all of 30 yards after seeing the keeper scrambling across.

The whistle blew on a brilliant 4 - 2 victory and Uplyme's name was the next to be etched onto the trophy.

"We were a different team in the second half." said Steve Gillan. "AP's wonderstrike gave everyone the lift they needed and showed them what could be done if they gave more. We all knew we had higher performances in us and the second 45 was fantastic. Skipper Lee Fifer really came alive and, alongside Connor Tate and Josh Lawrence, gave us a platform to build on. Those goals were built on the principles we've worked on all season and we could not be more proud.

"Big thanks to Penmill who were excellent opponents and a very fair, firm and committed team.

As one spectator said to me at the end 'I came as a neutral and leave as a lifetime Uplyme supporter'. We played great football."

Men of the Match went to Connor Tate for his overall excellent positioning and contribution, as well as Joe Urquhart for outstanding goals.