Oldham's Coppice United are the new North West football champions after they won this year's Asian Image Cup.

The tournament held at the Blackburn Rovers Youth Academy in Brockhall Village saw eight teams compete for the title and it was Coppice who won the day beating holders Asia in the final.

They scored 15 goals in their three games and in the final beat Rochdale's Asia who had earlier dumped both Blackburn United and Preston's Canaries out of the tournament.

A dogged Asia refused to go out without a fight and came from behind not once but twice in two days to book their place in the final.

For two days they forced extra-time by scoring in injury-time and on both occasions they won.

Canaries and Blackburn United might well count themselves unlucky but they had the chances to finish Asia off but failed to take them.

Asia's energy levels were impressive and they came back when other sides would have given up. Both full-backs must have covered every inch of those Academy pitches.

Against Canaries manager Saeed's last throw of the dice worked and then remarkably it worked again the day after.

To ask the lads to do it again three days in a row was asking too much.

The final began with Asia taking a lead through an Adam Kareem free-kick.

It was gritty start to a match much like the derby's of old.

Coppice looked very slow off the mark but came alive thanks to the midfield play of Danny O'Connell.

It was his pin-point through ball that allowed the lively Waqas Yunis to equalise. Minutes later Coppice turned the game on it's head after O'Connell slotted home a a pressure penalty.

O'Connell should have done better five minutes later but luckily for Coppice the miss was not crucial.

Asia who had been dubbed the Germany of this tournament after coming from behind to win pressed for an equalizer.

But Yasser on the right and Kesar were well marshalled by Coppice and their attacking play was broken up again and again.

Coppice needed another and soon got it as man of the match Ikram Daud beat two men before curling a right foot shot into the top corner.

As the minutes ticked by those who had headed home early over the weekend stuck around waiting for another Asia comeback. But Coppice defended well and Asia were forced to pump long balls into the penalty box. Those were dealt with comfortably by the Coppice centre-backs and midfielder Farooq who throughout the second half played with a strange looking bandage on his head after an earlier clash.

Asia got one goal back but this time it was too little too late as Coppice held on to be crowned the kings of the North West.

This was their first appearance in the tournament but the neat one two's, quick feet and lethal finishing won them a lot of friends.

For Asia they did bring two earlier matches alive with some thrilling finishes but here they just couldn't keep up with a Coppice side who were firing on all cylinders and brimming with confidence.