FIRST-HALF strikes by Tim Clarke and Dominic Karimi saw St John Fisher Reserves win the Gate Challenge Cup final at Beck Lane last Sunday to complete a league and cup double.
It was a case of déjà vu for Hightown Liberal Club, who also missed out in this final last season, but they have much to be proud of after winning promotion from Heavy Woollen Gate Division Two, with champions Fisher, and playing a full part in an open and enthralling final.
Clarke and Karimi were constant threats while Hightown had a couple of goals ruled out for offside before Fisher goalkeeper Dean Rigby made two vital saves.
The sides wore yellow armbands and held a minute's applause before kick-off in memory of 11-year-old Eden Shaw, who died after a 14-month battle against cancer.
Fisher made the brighter start and after James Hepworth saw a curling shot turned behind by Hightown goalkeeper Andrew Wright they took a fourth minute lead.
Hepworth beat two men on a run into the area and after he was fouled by Matthew Knight, Clarke stepped up to hammer home the penalty.
Hightown responded well and Lee Edmondson saw a goalbound strike deflected behind while Jonny Asquith and James Crines then set up Knight, whose shot was blocked by Danny Coucill before Knight lashed the rebound just wide.
Dean Comins headed home an Asquith cross but was adjudged offside before he ran clear only to see Rigby out quickly to deny the striker.
Clarke, Paul Harrison and Aaron Walton sent shots just wide while Wright was alert to tip a curling Clarke strike over but Hightown then pinned them back and a 25-yard Knight shot flashed past the left post.
Fisher nerves eased nine minutes before the break when Hepworth found space on the right and his cross was met by a Karimi near post header which beat Wright and hit the left post before crossing the line.
Comins, Knight and Crines were very lively for Hightown and as the half closed Comins's header sent Crines clear but he dragged his shot wide while Paul Fryer saw two shots deflected behind.
Good work on the right by Carl Austin created two chances which Karimi spurned soon after the break before a Carl Haynes free-kick fell to Knight in the Fisher area and he fired home, only to see the goal chalked off for offside.
Asquith was at the heart of many good Hightown moves while John Macdonald and Knight battled tirelessly on the right.
Karimi headed wide from eight yards after Clarke teased a yard for a cross while Wright then made a smart save to hold a Clarke strike before Hightown came again as Ryan Horsfield and Asquith saw goalbound shots blocked.
The turning point came 20 minutes from time when Aidrian Stowell's free-kick from half-way into the Fisher area was met by an Asquith bullet header and Rigby produced a super save to turn it behind.
A goal then and Hightown would have held the initiative but Fisher stood firm, with Coucill and James Oldroyd strong at the heart of their defence.
Karimi sent two more efforts just wide while three minutes from time Haynes's surging run down the left ended with a low cross and Horsfield's powerful strike was turned behind by a fine save from Rigby.
Hightown collected the Jack Hartley Memorial Trophy while Harrison stepped up to lift the Gate Challenge Cup and seal a memorable double for Fisher.
St John Fisher Reserves: Rigby, Taylor, Buckley (Ripley 73mins), Walton, Coucill, Oldroyd, Austin (Newsome 71mins), Hepworth, Karimi, Harrison (Milne 59mins), Clarke. Subs not used: Murray, Simmonds.
Hightown Liberal Club: Wright, Macdonald, Haynes, Stowell, Wilson, Fryer (Horsfield 59mins), Asquith, Edmondson (Jones 55mins), Knight, Comins, Crines. Subs not used: Graham, Bolland, Holmes.
Referee: Mick Kamis.
Assistant referees: Umar Ahmed and Craig Hainsworth.
Fourth official: James Parker.