NEW Inn are celebrating after picking up the first of five trophies they are chasing this season.

The Basingstoke and District Saturday League side won the North Hants Intermediate Cup on Tuesday evening, beating Winchester Castle Reserves 3-1 at Andover New Street.

Kicking down the slope in the first half, New Inn took the lead after 17 minutes, as Richard Kalwarczyk scored with a sweet 25-yard volley.

The lead was doubled on 25 minutes, Gordon Birch finding the net with a bullet header from Joe Richardson’s corner.

New Inn made it 3-0 a minute before the break, James Ariss in the right place to put away Matt Bennett’s free-kick, and the Winchester side looked dead and buried.

However, the second half was only six minutes old when Castle opened their account, Darren Nicholson beating New Inn goalkeeper Dean Mahoney.

Castle did have a little more of the game after the break, but Mahoney and his back line, which was well led by Birch, coped comfortably.

The Basingstoke side nearly added to their tally but Luke Richardson was twice denied when through one-on-one with the Winchester goalkeeper.

Referee Mick Walsh had a busy night, booking seven players.