YOU have to go back to 1931- exactly 70 years ago - since Appleby last won the Westmorland County FA's Senior Cup and it was as if the weight of all those intervening years was propelling them to a 4-3 victory over Staveley United at Parkside on Tuesday evening.

Staveley were to be tormented by Appleby's livewire forwards for most of the first half, but before their troubles began they went ahead.

It was only towards the close of the first half that Staveley showed the control necessary to construct an opening but, though enjoying a geater share of possession, they failed to get a shot on target.

Instead they went into half-time 3-1 down when Appleby swept out of defence deep in stoppage time and Ross Martin weaved his way through before Brendan O'Sullivan brought him down and Parkin added a second from the spot.

Five minutes into the second half Appleby threatened to put the final out of sight with a fourth goal when Martin finished off another flowing move by beating Wood at the second attempt.

You sensed Appleby felt they had done enough to lift the trophy and Staveley kept the interest alive with 20 minutes left when Chris Bell hooked a shot on to the angle of the goal and it rebounded off Cowper's chest into the net.

It was Staveley's aerial threat which held out most hope as they pressed hard to get back into contention but their third goal to make it 4-3 arrived too late to make a difference.

Four minutes of injury time had expired when Bell' s strength told again as he rose to nod in a corner.