WHITCHURCH United finally won the North Hants Senior Cup, after being beaten finalists for the past three years as they beat Tadley Calleva 3-1 at the Camrose.

The Jam Boys from the Wessex League Premier Division, started the game as slight favourites against Tadley, their Division One rivals.

Tadley started the better, but it was Whitchurch who opened the scoring after five minutes.

A ball over the top from Luke Neller found Jack McCarthy and even if Tom Hindmarsh made a great save to deny him, the danger was not cleared and McCarthy fired in from close range.

The lead, however, lasted just three minutes as Tadley replied.

Captain Scott Kinge outjumped the Whitchurch defence to head home a well delivered free-kick from the left from Andrew Charsley.

A minute later and the Division One outfit, so nearly took the lead after Brad Snelling produced a great save to deny Kinge and then Taurean Manders nearly put the rebound into his own net.

Whitchurch's Rudy Plummer was then the next player to test the goalkeepers in a bright opening.

The Jam Boys then increased the pressure and forced the first corner of the game, from which McCarthy's ball to the back post headed in by Scott Hassell after 37 minutes.

Five minutes after the break, Tadley came as close as they could to an equaliser, as James Tennant shot crashed off the crossbar and away to safety.

The second session turned into a stalemate of few clear cut chances and lively Whitchurch sub Dave Parry forced a corner from which he headed over.

Cameron Hough had a shot blocked and then Parry was found by a through ball from McCarthy and the sub calmly slotted home to make sure of the win seven minutes from time.

Whitchurch so nearly added a fourth, but sub Aaron Jarvis could not find a way past Hindmarsh.

The final whistle sparked the Whitchurch celebrations as they finally got the chance to raise the North Hants Senior Cup.

A delighted Whitchurch manager Carl Bennett said: "After last year we had unfinished business in this competition having been beaten on penalties. I am really pleased for the players and we deserved this for our excellent second half to the season.

"It may have been a scrappy game, but Tadley are a good side, but I felt we controlled the second-half. We needed a two cushion as at 2-1, they could have come back."

Bennett had special praise for one of his goalscorers Hassell and said: "He was my man of the match as he covered every blend of grass on the pitch."

A disappointed Tadley manager Danny Dolan said: "Whitchurch deserved to win tonight, as they were the better team and we were not as good as we could be."