THE FIRST honours of the season were decided when Wetheriggs beat Kendal Town Reserves 2-1 in the Westmorland FA Invitation Trophy final at Parkside on Wednesday.

Town had led eight minutes in the second half with a Steve Cross strike and looked the side most likeliest to score until the final quarter of an hour.

But the Penrith side - winning the competition for the third time in the last five years - stayed the distance and netted twice in a pivotal four-minute spell in the closing stages.

Leading the Town attack in the final was Peter Smith, ex- first-team boss and still a regular in the UniBond League side. He looked a class apart, ran his heart out and marshalled the young side well, but it was not enough.

A goalless first half saw Wetheriggs defend tenaciously with Kevin Walker and Stuart Havery policing Smith well in his roving role as Town enjoyed the best of the possession.

Chances fell for Town's Lee McNeill and Curtis Ward inside a crowded penalty box, but their shots were straight at keeper Nigel McCombie.

Wetheriggs' aerial power threatened at corners but they were restricted to the occasional counter-attack and Andy Fell should have done better with a side volley which flew wide.

Instead Town took a deserved lead in the 53rd minute as the tricky Smith got to the byeline before chipping up a perfect ball into the path of the on-rushing Cross, who scored with a sweet volley from 16 yards.

Town pressed strongly but could not extend their lead and instead Wetheriggs hit the woodwork and then confirmed how dangerous they were at set-pieces with a 76th minute equaliser.

Matt Hutton whipped over a free-kick for Andy Robertshaw's header from just inside the penalty box to loop over everyone and drop into the far corner.

Four minutes later Wetheriggs broke out of defence for a second goal when Steve Hall's teasing cross allowed Andy Fell to put Lee McNeill under pressure and the ball cannoned in off the Town player's leg at the far post for an own goal.

Town reacted with a double substitution, but it was keeper Danny Roberts who kept hopes alive with a fine diving save, after Martyn Currie's classy stepover had set up Fell to hit a firm goal-bound drive.

Robert also denied Hall with another good save, but Town might still have forced extra time as Smith popped up in front of the Wetheriggs goal with a last-gasp half-chance, but blasted the shot over to leave the Penrith side celebrating seconds later at the final whistle.

Town boss Andy Major said: "It's great to have someone 100 per cent genuine and sincere like Pete Smith in the club who is willing to come and play for the Reserves. We appreciated it.

"We outplayed Wetheriggs overall and created far more chances but that's the way finals go sometimes and to their credit they never stopped battling."