It is fair to say that there is no love lost between Euro Garages and Clayton Park Rangers.
Stewards in high-viz jackets and police on horseback is not the norm for a Blackburn Combination cup final but after run-ins, reprisals and reprimands, league officials were leaving nothing to chance.
And thankfully, it was the football that did the talking in the Premier Division cup final - with Aamir Toorawa the stand-out player despite starting on the bench for Euro Garages.
It was a cagey start from both teams, Omar Malik firing straight at Mark Haighton in Euro’s first attack of the game while Jason Thompson had a goalbound effort blocked at the other end.
Malik limped off soon after but his replacement Toorawa proved to be the game changer going on to score one goal and having a hand in two more.
Euro Garages, who finished the season as runners-up to Feniscowles and Pleasington, had the better of the first half with Aaron Hussain’s trusty left peg causing Rangers plenty of problems.
Hussain tried his luck from range that forced Haighton to scurry back on to his line and tip the ball over the crossbar. From the resulting corner, Hussain drilled the ball in and Leigh Abbott did well to hook Nasif Ahmed’s effort off the line.
Another Hussain set piece, this time a free kick, ended with Kalim Hafiji rising at the far post to head back across goal but no-one could supply the finishing touch.
At the other end, Daniel Leech fired in to the side netting before Euro had a real let-off when the same player hit the cross bar after good work by James Leech.
It proved to be crucial as Euro took the lead in their next attack, Hussain’s superb deep free kick was headed home by Toorawa.
It was soon 2-0 when Hussain’s corner was turned home by Junaid Dalal.
But Clayton were back in the game thanks to a superb goal from Daniel Leech, lifting the ball over the defender before volleying home.
Both sides upped the tempo after the break and James Leech had a great chance to grab an equaliser but just as he was about to shoot, Nasif Ahmed got back to make an excellent tackle.
The next goal was always going to be crucial and it when Euro Garages way when Toorawa broke free down the right and crossed for Mo Nabeel to fire home.
Both players were then involved in the goal of the game, slick passing involving Mohbeen Latif before Nabeel slid the ball through to Ahmed to prod the ball past the onrushing Haighton.
Clayton kept going and pulled a goal back when James Leech rose to head home a corner from Mackenzie Rosbotham but it was too late for a comeback and Euro Garages lifted the cup.
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