BELS have picked up the first big trophy of the season. In an entertaining Stranger Cup final last night at a bitterly cold Corbet Field, they got their hands on the coveted silverware when they defeated rivals North.

‘I’m delighted,’ said their boss Micky Ogier, who will be confident that by the season’s end they will have landed a cabinet full of trophies, including the Priaulx League title.

‘I thought 4-1 flattered us a little bit. We went to sleep when we went 2-0 up.

‘We thought the game was won and we started arguing among ourselves, but fair play to our lads, they came out second half and got another two goals.’

Bels were up 2-0 within quarter-of-an-hour, Sam Cochrane scoring with a header and Dave Rihoy netting from a corner.

They proceeded to go off the boil and North hit back through Jamie Ferbrache at the end of the half, but the reigning Priaulx champions could not capitalise on that as Bels’ defence, led by their excellent captain Leighton Chainey, kept things tight.

Bels went on to get a couple more goals through Matt Drillot as North threw caution to the wind to try and get the win.

‘I’m bound to be disappointed to lose – it’s a cup final,’ said North coach Mick Le Prevost afterwards.

‘We did well in the first half. We came back and we started to play some good football.

‘We were as good as them but it’s the end product that’s the problem. We’re not putting the ball in the back of the net. We’re not doing that at the moment. We were a few weeks ago. Maybe it’s confidence.’

North are going through a terrible run of results, this being their third defeat on the trot as they struggle with a crippling injury list.

‘It’s never easy when you’re on a bad run,’ said Le Prevost.