MIDDLEWICH collected the first trophy of the campaign at Wincham Park in midweek when they won the Mid Cheshire League Cup for the first time in more than 40 years.

They bossed the first half and took the lead after only 10 minutes.

But the final was not destined to be a one-sided affair predicted by the league positions.

Mike Brandon collected a Les Miranda through ball and tucked the ball home, and Middlewich went on to miss several chances before the break while Bollington hung on.

But the underdogs showed more bite after the break. They were arguably the better side in the second half without troubling Paul Simpson in the Middlewich goal.

Middlewich sewed up the match near the end when Jamie Petrie was brought down in the box and Lee Murphy converted the penalty.

Top performers were Brandon and Nigel Booth, returning from Winsford for the night to cover one of several gaps left by a glut of unavailabilities.

The downside for Middlewich was that winger Adam Morris broke his ankle and will miss the remainder of the season.

Northwich Vics Res 0 Middlewich Town 1: Middlewich reached the Mid Cheshire FA Cup final at Moss Farm on Saturday but, in the words of manager Terry Murphy, were 'abysmal'.

He also praised Tony Ennion's youngsters who plugged away ceaselessly, though they did not look like scoring.

Joey Roberts volleyed home the winner after 55 minutes.

Barnton 4 Witton Albion Res 1:

Barnton stepped into the final from the other tie and it was all over by the interval. By then, Barnton were three up and could easily have doubled the score.

Witton were spirited and it gave them a measure, as MCL Second Division leaders, of the top flight at its best.

Excellent finishes by Kevin Towey (2) and Mark Jones put Barnton in command, and Towey completed his hat-trick on the hour before Witton were rewarded with a late consolation goal. nLOSTOCK Gralam were beaten 4-1 at home by Club AZ in Division Two.

MCL tomorrow: Division Two - Witton Res v Ashton Town Res; Saturday: One - Golborne v Barnton, Knutsford v Middlewich; Two - Warrington Boro v Lostock; Reserves - Middlewich v Gamesley.

WINNINGTON Avenue's interest in the Crewe & East-Cheshire Inter-League Cup ended at the third-round stage when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Royal Oak. Steve O'Malley was the Avenue marksman.

In the Crewe & District League, a Steve Pickett goal was not enough to save Avenue Reserves from a 2-1 defeat at home by Bentley, while Winsford IPC were trounced 4-0 at Bunbury.

Winnington Avenue have a chance to reach the final of the Crewe FA Junior Cup on Saturday when they visit the league's bottom team Malpas, while Avenue Reserves host IPC in a local derby clash in their league.