BELVEDERE 3 TUATARA BAR 2

BOBBY Darch’s 30-yard rocket secured a dramatic league and cup double for the Belvedere as they saw off a plucky Tuatara Bar to lift the Les Hallett Cup at Wessex Stadium.

After a cagey opening 15 minutes, it was the T-Bar’s Charlie Kenderdine who had the first effort of the contest which was well saved by Paul Bosworth.

The Belvedere’s first chance though, saw them take the lead.

Paul Cole received the ball from Matt Brown on the left flank and curled a superb effort from 25 yards beyond the outstretched hand of Matt Newman to give his side the lead on 19 minutes.

Kenderdine shot over from 12 yards four minutes later before the Belve had a goal disallowed on 29 minutes when Brown was adjudged to have fouled Newman.

Man of the match Cole wasted two chances to extend his side’s lead before T-Bar equalised.

Top marksman Tom Grattidge sprung the Belve’s offside trap to race through on goal and shoot beyond Bosworth from 18 yards.

Disaster struck on the stroke of half-time for Belvedere as T-Bar took the lead, when a free-kick into the Belve area was flicked past his own keeper by the head of Rob Maxted.

Belvedere made a change at the interval with striker Lewis Why-ton replacing injured Brown and it was his introduction that helped turn around his side’s fortunes.

He levelled with his first involvement on 50 minutes. Whyton’s initial shot was blocked, but as T-Bar player-boss Chris Meadows cleared, the ball struck Whyton and found the net.

The T-Bar introduced Andy Graham, while Alex Halloran replaced Nigel Evans for the Belve as both teams looked to freshen things up.

The T-Bar started to retain possession better with Graham’s introduction and on 55 minutes Kenderdine wasted a free-kick 25 yards out after Darch was penalised for a foul on Grattidge.

Cole again had chances to give his side the lead but his first effort was well saved by Newman before he flashed a shot across goal from 10 yards.

The T-Bar introduced John Lamb in place of Simon Mea-dows on 58 minutes and he was involved two minutes later when he played Grattidge through but the striker pulled his shot wide of goal.

Belvedere keeper Bosworth was lucky to escape a card when he left his area and upended Lamb, but from the resulting free-kick Preece failed to connect with Lamb’s delivery at the near post.

Two minutes later Cole thought he had given his side the lead but his goalbound shot was deflected wide, however, Darch produced the goal of the game with 20 minuts to go.

As the T-Bar cleared a Belvedere corner, the loose ball rolled towards a waiting Darch, who drilled in from 30 yards leaving Newman with no chance.

There was still time for Whyton to make a goal-line clearance on 80 minutes as Lamb came close to scoring a late equaliser, but Belvedere held on for victory in an evenly contested game that was played in a tremendous spirit.

Man of the Match: Paul Cole (Belvedere) Belvedere (3-5-2): Bosworth, Holder, Maxted, Paice, Lee, C Wyatt, Darch, Evans (Halloran 50), Hanson (Aston 62), Cole, Brown (Whyton 46).

Tuatara Bar (4-4-1-1): Newman, Robinson, C Meadows (S Camp 75), Dancer, Stalker, Kenderdine, Upton (Graham 51), Roper, Preece; S Meadows (Lamb 57), Grattidge.