Holwell edged past arch rivals Asfordby Amateurs on penalties in the final of the Melton Times-sponsored competition after a well-contested 90 minutes had ended goalless.

Amateurs, who had Sam McMahon sent off for retaliation, were incensed when the referee ordered a missed Holwell spotkick to be re-taken after the linesman judged the keeper to have strayed off his line. Holwell survived by converting the re-take.

There had been doubts as to whether Asfordby players would accept their runners-up medals, but chairman Geoff Perkins helped calm the situation and the presentation ceremony went ahead as planned.

Mr Perkins said: "I didn't enjoy the result, but I did enjoy the game – it was a really good game and I think everyone up there enjoyed it.

"There was no animosity on the pitch – we had a few issues with the ref, but that's by the by.

"We want to congratulate Holwell and wish them all the best in the new league and hopefully we will see them there the season after next."

While Amateurs won the Senior League Division One, Holwell finished fourth in the Premier and next season will play in the East Midlands Counties League.

Holwell manager Simon Daws will be just as pleased to see the strength in depth the club can boast at present.

Its Under 18s side won the Midweek Floodlit Youth League South and came within goal difference of being crowned the overall county league champions.

Then Holwell Sports Reserves caught the bug, pipping Asfordby to promotion from the Leics Combination Division Two.

Then the second string sealed a double last Thursday by beating Division One top six outfit St Andrew's Reserves 4-1 in the League Cup final.

For reserves' manager Graham Lewin it was just reward for years of hard work and came with an extraordinary unbeaten run stretching back to Christmas and beyond.

He said: "By November we had lost six games and were three from the bottom. We had a team meeting and told them to pull together or the season's finished.

"I knew they were good enough and once the belief and commitment returned, the results came, too.

"We have provided players for the First XI which is what I am here to do, but it's nice to win a few pots along the way.

"I think now they understand we are not a Sunday pub team.

"We have got all these superb facilities and the first team are going to a higher league, and the reserves will be playing a better standard as well."