HOLSWORTHY Reserves manager Adam Wosnitzka felt his side’s Launceston Cup final victory over Lifton on Sunday, May 19 turned a ‘below par’ season into a ‘good one’.

The Magpies earned the trophy thanks to the game’s solitary goal from midfielder Scott Bingham after seven minutes, in a game that never really got going in front of a crowd of just over 270.

A delighted Wosnitzka told the Post: “I was delighted to win the first ever all Devon final which added to the spice of the evening.”

“It was an objective of ours to win a cup at the start of the season, so it was great to get over the line.”

Holsworthy were roared on by a large following at Pennygillam, a fact not lost on the boss.

He said: “Ryan (Hall, first team manager) has developed a spirit and togetherness at the club which I have tried to build on. Everyone is on the same page and it was no surprise to see the level of support we had on the night.”

Holsworthy dominated the opening ten minutes, although from there on it was a close encounter.

Wosnitzka said: “I was really pleased with the way we started and to get the early goal, and I was hoping we would then kick on, but it didn’t really happen.

“Over the 90 minutes I felt we just about edged it, and if we converted some of the big moments we had, I would like to think it would have been more comfortable.”

“It’s safe to say it was far from a classic, but it’s all about getting over the line and we did that.”

Bingham’s goal came less than 18 months after suffering a broken leg, with the manager adding: “It was Scott’s first goal for Holsworthy and it was just reward for him as he’s been superb since coming back in January and has made a real difference in our midfield.”

“He’s a great character on and off the pitch and we’re all made up for him.”

Wosnitzka also praised his two centre-halves and Dean Chidley.

He said: “Ryan Tape was deservedly man of the match, but there were some other really good performances.”

“Callum Martyn at just 16 has been phenomenal since coming into the adult game, while Dean Chidley’s save from Isaac Parnell was excellent, particularly as it was so soon after we scored.”

“To keep a clean sheet when your front players aren’t quite at their best takes immense amounts of concentration but they, and the rest of the squad, were up to the task.”

Holsworthy were back in the North Devon League Premier Division this term, and finished ninth in the 11-team division, but only within a victory of the top six.

Wosnitzka said: “Everybody was fairly disappointed after the final league game of the season at Landkey as we didn’t play well in a 4-2 defeat, but Sunday’s win has turned a ‘below par season’ into a good one.”

“We wanted to finish in the top six but unfortunately we just fell short. It was the results against the teams in and around us – Landkey, Appledore Reserves and Appledore Lions – that cost us as we only picked up three points from a possible 18.

“We probably had to shoe-horn certain games towards the end of the season which didn’t help, and we weren’t able to have the consistency in selection that we’d have liked, but we stayed in the league which was objective number one, and we won a cup.

“Also all the lads stuck at it and gave everything which is all you can ask for, and even after Sunday, we won’t stand still.

“We’ve got some good youngsters and some good experience and hopefully we can build on that during pre-season so we can kick on again next year!”