Cardea FC (3-5-2): Gav Sampson; Gavin Earl, Michael Williams, Stuart Yaxley; Kynan Bereznyckyj, Alex Goymour, Aaron Yeoman, John Reddell, Shane Cooke; Luke Penman, Rob Ames. Subs: Daryn Whiteman, Aiden Stanford, Adam Simons.

Cardea had a couple of huge let offs early on in the game when the speedy Farcet strikers got in behind the defence and Cardea were rescued by goalkeeper Sampson and the post.

Cardea also had two great chances in the opening ten minutes with Penman shooting wide and Ames hitting the post. The early signs of the match pointed to an open game where many chances would be created.

The opening goal of the game came in the 16th minute and it went to Cardea. Ames played a superb reverse pass to Penman who finished confidently in the bottom corner.

It was 2-0 in the 20th minute. Goymour was sent into space on the right and lobbed the keeper but his effort was cleared off the line. From the resulting Yeoman corner Cooke headed back across the goal and the ball deflected past the keeper and into the net off a Farcet player.

The chances kept coming for both teams but the ball was spending more time in the allotments either side of the pitch than troubling the two goalkeepers.

Just before half time their was a fantastic chance for Cardea to add a third. Reddell played a great ball through to Penman but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

After half time Farcet came out fighting and just two minutes in they scored a goal. The ball was cut back from the right and Beeken prodded in from six yards.

Two minutes later and the game was level as the ball was sent into the Cardea area and Cross equalised.

The game swung in the favour of Farcet and they spent a lot of time camped in the Cardea half but the defence managed to keep the scores level.

On the hour mark Goymour had to come off injured with Whiteman coming on. Stanford and Simons also came on for Bereznyckyj and Ames as Cardea switched formation to try and get a hold on the game.

The change had an instant impact as Cardea retook the lead. After sending a lob wide moments before, Penman got his angles correct when Cooke sent him through on goal and his effort sailed over the keeper and into the back of the net sending the Cardea fans wild.

The last 15 minutes was a nervy affair with Farcet pushing for the equaliser and Cardea countering dangerously.

With 6 minutes remaining Farcet had a great opportunity to score another equaliser when an indirect free kick was awarded for a back pass. With the ball 16 yards out the wall was quick to run out and block the ball and clear the danger.

After an agonising wait the referee finally blew the final whistle and confirmed Cardea as the Hunts Cup champions.

Cardea were pushed all the way by a Farcet side who never gave up and will count themselves unlucky not to have won the cup.

After the game an ecstatic Cardea manager Craig Robinson said: "A cup final win is a fanastic achievement. We didn't play to the level we know we can play to. We must give a lot of credit to Farcet, they more than played their part in a terrific open, end to end cup final.

"But congratulations and thank you to all 16 involved tonight, Holden for taking the physio duties and Kev and Youelly for running such an organised club.

"We go again next Friday and we need a much bigger performance."

Kev Webster added: "A massive well done to everyone on the cup final victory. It was a first for many of us and to get a win in our first cup final as a team will always be a great achievement. You all deserved it for the attitude and efforts put in this season.

"Would also like to thank the reserves that came down to make the night a special occasion for all at Cardea FC and the live Twitter updates was spot on. Well done Lee Jacobs. Again well done and thank you to Robbo. Let's make it a double."

It was the second trophy in two days for the club following the Reserves league title on Sunday and the first team will be looking to add the Hereward Cup when the take on Premiair at Chestnut Avenue next Friday (29th April).