An absorbing clash ended with Division One outfit Esquires winning the Beds FA Sunday Junior Cup following a 2-1 win over Silsoe Park Rangers.

With both sides keen to counter attack, it was Esquires who drew first blood 15 minutes in when Andrew Sheratt crossed from the right for Gary Russon to sweep the ball into the net.

Esquires remained on top for most of the half and went close to doubling their advantage from set-pieces on a couple of occasions, before Shaheen Miah crashed a 30-yard effort against the bar eight minutes before the break.

Russon though did make it 2-0 early in the second half when he swivelled and struck a shot into the net leaving Silsoe's keeper flat-footed.

Three minutes later, Miah tested the Silsoe keeper again with a towering drive from the left which was scrambled away.

Silsoe dominated the last five minutes and should have scored when the Esquires goal was unoccupied, but that chance went begging.
With a minute left on the clock in normal time, Silsoe scored a bizarre consolation goal.

A shot was deflected high into the air, spinning wildly and, after the flight of the ball had bamboozled the defence and goalkeeper Simon Dent, it finished up just over the goal line, bouncing up into the roof of the net.

Partizan, meanwhile, put up a valiant fight but were edged out 1-0 after extra-time in their Britannia Harrison & Rowley Cup final clash with Premier Division champions Sandy Sunday.

The game remained goalless after 90 minutes and it was not until halfway through the second period of extra-time that the destination of the cup was decided as Sandy seized the initiative and sealed their own league and cup double. Partizan defender Sam Churns was nominated as the man of the match.

Division Two side Inter Cople have been nominated by the league for a Special Merit Award to mark their on-field achievements this season. They lost only one game on their way to the Division Two championship.