Townhill FC survived a second half fightback from a spirited AM Soccer side to clinch the 2016 League Cup at Denfield Park on Sunday. First half goals from Regan Lumsden and Damon Kenny had put Townhill in control at the break; but Liam McWatt’s strike set up a tense finale to an enthralling encounter.

There were early chances for both sides, with Aedan Brown snuffing out a quick Townhill counter attack, before Kieran Fox played Jason Burns in behind the Townhill defence, but he could only slice his effort wide.

Alex Chingwalu then released Kenny whose low cross was turned behind for a corner, and it was this corner that brought the game its first goal. The cross was delivered deep into the area, and when the ball was headed back across goal, Lumsden reacted quickest to prod the ball home.

There was almost a second for Townhill moments later, when Kenny showed good strength to hold the ball up, before spinning his marker and dragging a shot agonisingly wide of the post.

AM Soccer were looking to bounce back from the early set back, and a long free kick from Brown brought Owain Stark scuttling off his line to punch the ball clear, before the ‘keeper was again called into action; this time denying Errol Vella, whose shot took a nasty deflection on its way through a crowded defence.

Despite AM’s efforts to claw their way back into the game, they were soon two down thanks to a wonderful team goal from Townhill. After some slick passing through midfield, Chingwalu found Kenny with a pin point pass which the forward was able to control on his chest before rifling home on the volley, sending the ball fizzing into the top corner.

Stark was called into action once more before the interval, as he rushed off his line to intercept a pass as Burns looked to sneak in on goal; and there was even a chance for a third goal moments before half time as Mackenzie Roe took aim from a free kick which whistled just past the post.

AM Soccer needed a response in the second half if they were to stand any chance of overturning the deficit, and they made a blistering start as Stark was called into action in the opening moments, saving a shot from Fox after he found space from a throw in.

Matthew Porteus then had a golden chance to halve the arrears, as he rose highest at a set piece but could only guide his header over the bar.

A third goal would have all but sealed the win for Townhill, and they came close to doing just that as Kieran Annandale arrived late at the far post to meet a corner, but his header was wide of the mark.

AM Soccer began to turn the screw as Townhill dropped deeper and deeper, looking to preserve their two goal advantage.

A long ball found Ross Falconer arriving at the far post, but he couldn’t connect and the chance was gone; before a corner, whipped into a dangerous area, looked to have found Porteus in space; but he couldn’t climb high enough to get his head to the ball as Townhill held on.

AM Soccer almost got the slice of luck they needed as Fox pumped a long ball into the box from a free kick, and when the danger wasn’t cleared substitute goalkeeper Adam Ainslie did well to scramble across his goal-line and claw the ball away to safety.

The elusive goal almost came from a long throw in as Elliot Gourlay crept in front of his man to nod an effort wide, before another good Fox delivery from a set piece caused havoc in the Townhill defence, but not attacker took a gamble and the ball bounced away to safety.

Ainslie then pulled off the save of the match to preserve his sides two goal lead, showing lightening reactions to tip a powerful Porteus header over the bar.

The pressure did finally bring its reward however, as AM Soccer got the goal their play deserved. McWatt was played in on the right hand side of the area, before keeping his cool to steer the ball beyond Ainslie and into the top corner.

The goal gave late hope to AM Soccer, who began sending the ball forward at every opportunity in search of an equaliser, and Townhill had Ainslie to thank again before the final whistle; as once again pawed the ball to safety after a long free kick was allowed to bounce in the area.

AM’s pressure was to no avail, however, as Townhill held on to be crowned League Cup champions.