WATTS Blake Bearne scored two quickfire goals at the start of the second half to clinch the Devon Senior Cup at Coach Road.

On Saturday, May 16, WBB won their first piece of silverware for the season by beating Bovey Tracey AFC 2nd XI and the victorious manager Dexter Allsworth was “absolutely delighted” with the outcome.

“I feel a bit relieved more than joyous” said Allsworth, adding: “About 12 months ago the club weren’t in a great position at all so to do what we’ve done this season is a huge credit to the lads, they’ve been amazing and so resilient.”

There were plenty of half-chances in the first 45 minutes but both sides were lacking the incisive quality in the final third with the rain falling at the Devon FA HQ.

It was also a very physical encounter and there were penalty claims at either end. From the sidelines, it looked as if WBB goalkeeper Connor Rowlands had tripped Owen Coldwell in the area but the ref awarded a corner, indicating that Rowlands got to the ball first.

Bovey’s own shot-stopper Lewis Rider was involved in the other penalty appeal as Jake Cuff knocked the ball past and then collided with him but the ref was unmoved once more. There was also a handball call against Finn Wolfe waved away.

Allsworth and co “changed a few things tactically to calm [WBB] down” at the break and this clearly worked as they were in front after just a few second-half minutes.

Brad Rooney was caught off guard on the edge of the Bovey area and Leo Dobson-Hill strode into the space left behind, receiving the ball and calmly slotting past Rider.

The Claymen could and probably should have doubled their lead within 60 seconds of the restart, Cam Gill heading on target only for Rider to make a ridiculous reaction save, tipping the effort onto the crossbar.

Allsworth’s side didn’t have to wait long for their second of the afternoon, but not before Bovey were temporarily reduced to 10 men.

Sam Barnes’ acrobatic effort from a corner saw two WBB bodies fly through the air and as Olly Clifford-Bourne fired home the rebound, the referee blew for a free-kick. The response was an apoplectic one, so much so that Barnes was sin-binned for his protestations.

Moments after an appeal for a handball by the Bovey ‘keeper well outside his box, Rider was picking the ball out of the back of his net once again.

Gill let off an effort from range and with it swerving all over the place, Rider couldn’t quite get his body behind the shot and it squirmed in for WBB’s second.

WBB came close to a third goal but the Moorlanders kept applying pressure themselves and when Barnes re-entered the fray, he put it on a plate for Ben Moyle who put a golden opportunity well wide.

Sam Pearce thundered an attempt off of the crossbar from at least 25 yards out as Wattsies looked the put the final to bed and then Bovey Tracey effectively did it for them.

Frustrations were rising and a kick-out from fullback Wolfe saw the red mist descend, Bovey losing a man on a permanent basis this time.

They kept going until the final whistle all the same, Coldwell forcing Rowlands into a couple of smart saves.

Allsworth highlighted the heart of the opponents: “Fair play to Bovey, we played them a few weeks ago and they came back from 2-0 down so we knew it was possible that they could do it again.

“They fought right until the very end but so did we, they scored right at the very end to make it an even more nerve-wracking finish.”

Clifford-Bourne, the standout in the red of Bovey on the day, showed his technical ability once more to deliver a consolation goal for his side.

Reflecting on the occasion, Allsworth was “just taking it all in on what is a big day for the club. Everyone is absolutely delighted.”

WBB and Bovey have four games left to play each in SDFL’s Division One at the time of writing, the former leading the way while the latter are on course for a mid-table finish.

Wattsies welcome Liverton United to Abbrook Park on Tuesday evening (May 19) and then both are in action next weekend, WBB visiting Barton Athletic and Bovey hosting Mount Gould.