Unisun Athletic secured the first silverware of the season in the Cumberland County League as they came from behind to beat Cockermouth 3-1at Gillford Park.
The league leaders were made to fight for the win as a dogged Cockermouth side proved difficult to break down despite Unisun having long periods of possession.
Shane Dorward went closest to opening the scoring for Unisun in the first half when his long-range effort cannoned back off the bar.
The Cockermouth back four were excellent and limited Unisun to half chances with a series of blocks and clearances.
As the first half drew to a close Unisun had the best chance to take the lead and it again fell to Dorward.
The winger cut in from the left and combined with Mikey Williamson whose deft click round the corner gave Dorward a clear sight on goal only for Danny Moffatt to appear from nowhere to put in a superb recovery tackle and send the sides in level at half time.
Cockermouth took the lead early in the second half when a quick break found Luke Graham on the left wing.
Cockermouth’s leading scorer carried the ball from inside his own half before cutting in past George Carter and firing a shot which took a wicked deflection past Unisun keeper Ben Greig.
It almost got even better for Cockermouth just a few minutes later when Ben Rathbone’s looping effort clipped the crossbar.
On the hour mark Unisun hauled themselves level and Dorward finally got himself on the scoresheet when his free kick from the edge of the area was deflected past Jake Winter in the Cockermouth goal and into the bottom corner.
Both teams pushed on looking to wrestle back the advantage and Dorward pressed high to recover the ball before playing in Tom McDonald whose clever turn and pass looked to have given Ollie Reay a sight on goal only for the winger to be closed down before he could get his shot away.
Reay showed good composure and his cut back found Unisun captain Nathan Johnstone on the edge of the area and he hit an unstoppable first time shot into the top corner to make it 2-1 to Unisun.
With time running out Cockermouth pushed forward for an equaliser and looked to get balls into the box as often as possible.
With less than five minutes left on the clock Cockermouth fed a free kick from deep into the Unisun area which was met Carter. Hod headed clearance reached the edge of the area before Tom McDonald smashed the ball into the Cockermouth half on the volley.
Former Man City youth team player Kingsley Grandison raced into the Cockermouth half with just one defender back and rounded the onrushing keeper before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3-1 and put the result beyond doubt.
