Colne Engaine secured their first silverware since returning to their Burches Meadow home, with a defeat of Colchester and East Essex League division one side Sporting Rebels in the Lexden Memorial Cup final.

Second-half goals from Jordan Partridge, Joe Pearce and Richard Hearn were enough for second division Engaine to see off the challenge of the division one leaders.

Rebels looked threatening, but Colne Engaine’s centre-back pairing of Steve King and Matt Bower dealt well with the danger throughout and it was a quiet opening half hour.

However, two yellow cards in quick succession for the Sporting striker saw his side reduced to ten men and despite the score staying goalless until half-time, the Engines knew they would have a numerical advantage after the break. Rebels charged out of the blocks at the start of the second period, but were profligate in front of goal and they paid for that as ten second-half minutes put the Engines in control. Alex McCall, Pearce and Partridge had been in charge of the centre of the park, with the latter collecting the ball just outside the centre circle.

He drove into the heart of the Rebels defence, dropped a shoulder and slotted past the keeper to spur jubilant celebrations and the lead was doubled soon after, when Hearn’s driven cutback was met by Pearce just outside the six-yard box and diverted in.

Sporting tried to hit back but the final was wrapped up with a late penalty after Joe Morris was fouled and Hearn converted the spot-kick into the bottom corner as the Engines celebrated a 3-0 victory.

Captain Chris Amos collected the cup, with Jordan Partridge awarded the man-of-the-match honours.