ALRESFORD won the first of a possible four trophies last night when they defeated Whitchurch 2-1 to lift the North Hampshire Senior Cup for the third season running.

Striker Zach Glasspool scored both goals.

On a chilly evening at Andover new Street’s bucolic Foxcotte Park ground, the Magpies got off to a lively start. They almost took the lead in the first minute when Mike McEnery shook off a couple of challenges only for keeper Ashley West to parry his shot. Alresford top scorer Warren Bentley, happily restored to fitness, soon made his presence felt with a slide-rule pass to Glasspool, whose finish gave West no chance after just three minutes.

Whitchurch equalised just before half-time when Nic Turpin collected a long ball forward and beat Collins with an excellent finish.

Alresford’s winner came five minutes into the second half.

The 49-goal Bentley’s burst into the box was halted by a late Chris Smalley tackle that sent him flying, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Glasspool took charge of the spot-kick, and duly dispatched it.

That was the end of the scoring, but not of the excitement. Alresford seemed to ease up a fraction while Whitchurch, with Isaac Sedu making some pacy runs, got the ball forward quickly and put pressure on the Magpies’ defence.

Alresford held firm, though, and managed to endure a nervy five minutes of added time.

The closest Whitchurch came was on 82 minutes, when Alresford failed to clear a corner and Turpin’s header landed on top of the net.

The Magpies can now enjoy a few days’ recuperation before Saturday’s Wessex League match against Downton heralds the start of a punishing run of five matches in ten days.

Alresford remain top of the Wessex Premier, while they are also through to the Wessex League Cup final and the semi finals of the Aldershot Senior Cup.