DESPITE falling at the last hurdle in the playoffs, Salisbury FC ended the season on a high with a 1-0 win over local rivals Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the Salisbury Hospital Cup final.

Eddie Perrett got the only goal of the game in the tenth minute of what became Bemerton’s second cup-final defeat in a week.

It followed their penalty shootout loss to Portchester in the Russell Cotes Cup last week.

This was Graham Kemp’s final game in charge of Bemerton, with Rae Hughes now taking over at the club.

Salisbury boss Steve Claridge made five changes to the side that lost to Tiverton ten days ago, but kept top goalscorer Tommy Wright in the squad.

Claridge spoke after the game and said: “It was lovely to win. The lads got a medal and a reward in what has been a good season."

The Whites got off to a brilliant start, scoring after ten minutes.

Lewis Benson played the ball into Perrett in the centre, who then ran at the Bemerton defence and struck a low shot into the bottom left corner which went in off the post.

Salisbury could have doubled their lead on the half-hour mark, but Perrett was denied by keeper Dan Kovacs.

Again Kovacs was called upon, this time denying Chris Onoufriou whose shot was deflected, following a cross from Taurean Roberts Bemerton started the second half the better team and could have got themselves an equaliser Jake Rawkins put a great ball into the box from a free kick, but nobody could get on the end of it.

Salisbury then came back with their own attacks and Tommy Wright nearly found the net, he was played in on goal, but Kovacs made a great save and Wright couldn’t make anything of the rebound.

With just ten minutes to go, Kemp’s side pushed for an equaliser, but couldn’t find a way past the Salisbury defence, and the scored remained 1-0.

Kemp told JournalSport: “My lads were superb second half.

“We gave 100 per cent and ran ourselves to a standstill.”