Goals from Darren Huckerby, Matthew Metcalf and Rudi Hare saw Cringeford Veterans see off a second half resurgence from Thetford Town to lift the Norfolk Veterans Cup trophy.

Thetford started the brighter of the two sides, with striker Steve Davies capitalising on a defensive error but failing to find the net.

Cringleford looked to make an instant impact, with Darren Huckerby jinking his way past two defenders before pulling his cross back to Matt Gill who drilled his shot high and wide. Huckerby played a neat one-two with Matt Metcalf just minutes later; however Thetford goalkeeper John Sparrowhawk pulled off a fantastic save to his upper left to keep the scores at 0-0.

Town struggled to get a foothold in the game thereafter, with Cringleford looking far more threatening and made the breakthrough in the 21st minute, when Huckerby sprung the Thetford defence and finessed his shot into the far corner leaving the goalkeeper helpless.

That goal gave Cringleford plenty of confidence, with a short corner being whipped in to Metcalf who got across his defender and thumped his header into the roof of the net in the process. Cringleford got their third goal minutes before half-time, with Rudi Hare in the right place at the right time to smash home a cross from close range.

Cringleford looked to build on their momentum from the end of the first half, with Huckerby causing problems and winning a free-kick in a dangerous area. The resulting free-kick saw the former Norwich winger rattle the crossbar.

Thetford then came into the game and substitute Morgan Crane got across his defender to glance home past the onrushing keeper at the near post to the delight of the travelling fans.

Thetford became far more direct, with Cringleford struggling to create many clear cut chances on the counter.

A long ball into the box fell down to striker Steve Davies, however his effort was blocked, leading to a dramatic goalmouth scramble that the goalkeeper eventually claimed.

Cringleford were holding their own though, and very nearly made it four with less than 10 minutes on the clock. Roger Hickman did extremely well to hold up the ball before playing in Matt Gill, who poked the ball round the defender to create a promising one on one, however Sparrowhawk pulled off another remarkable save to tip his effort round the post, as Cringleford went on to lift the Norfolk Veterans Cup trophy.

Thetford Town: Sparrowhawk, Stocks, Walsh, Crawshaw (C), Mleczck, Richards, Johnson, Taylor, Fowler, Davies & Tucker (C). Subs: Pritchford, Skipp, Crane, Wycherley, Kirk.

Cringleford: Anderson, Nicholl, Musgrove, Hare (C), Howie, Huckerby, Izzard, Gill, Metcalf, Hallam & Neilson. Subs: Hickman, Taylor, Sanders, Dennis, Waters.

Referee: Matthew Hudson

Attendance: 226

Man of the match: Darren Huckerby