Cornwall Senior Cup Final (Easter Monday) Saltash Utd 2 Truro 3 THE Ashes could be forgiven for bemoaning their luck in this Senior Cup final at Wadebridge, where the least they deserved was a replay. Saltash were the better team at times, despite Truro fielding their full-strength squad that has taken them 11 points clear at the top of the Western League Premier Division table and on course for promotion to the Southern League. One could only feel for Saltash manager Kevin Hendy when he said after the final whistle: 'I think we deserved at least a replay. 'It was a very open and even game as both teams looked to attack at every opportunity, but unfortunately we conceded soft goals at vital times. 'It is always easier to accept defeat if you are beaten by good goals, but we contributed to them scoring,' he added. Former Liskeard boss Dave Leonard, now in charge at Truro, was full of praise for Saltash as he admitted he enjoyed the result but not the game. 'It was a great final for the neutral but for Kevin (Hendy) and myself it was not too enjoyable as both teams were prepared to go for each other's throat. 'Saltash are one of the best teams at that level and all credit must go to them,' he praised. Saltash were caught cold at the start of the game as Stewart Yetton capitalised on hesitancy in the Ashes defence to fire past Chris Wearing from six yards. Truro were enjoying the majority of the early possession, but as the half wore on, they came back at their illustrious opponents. It was no more than they deserved when Marc Thorne forced his way in at the far post to guide home the equaliser and Truro were the ones on the back foot now. The Saltash midfield, led by the impressive Daley Simpson, who won the man of the match award, was causing problems for Truro, who had professionals Joe Broad, Marcus Martin and Kevin Wills in their engine room. Truro will always be dangerous, though, and they almost caught Saltash out with the last kick of the first half, but fortunately Scott Walker's free-kick came back off the crossbar. Saltash started the second half strongly and were unlucky when Thorne's chip to the far post found Chapman at full stretch, but his effort hit the outside of the post. Four minutes later disaster struck, but if the referee's assistant had seen what everyone else behind the goal had witnessed, then the goal would have been wiped out. Yetton made room on the right to reach the byline and his cross to the near post was carried over the Ashes' line by the hands of Andy Watkins. Saltash's protests were ignored and it was now that Truro enjoyed a purple patch, with Yetton bringing a good save out of Wearing before Walker sent a powerful header flying over the bar. To their credit, Saltash rode the storm and hit back to level on 65 minutes as Gavin Coulton nodded the ball back into the danger area for Chapman to force his way in between two defenders and the goalkeeper to head into the roof of the net. The game was now end-to-end, with substitute Glen Palmer finding Danny Lewis who cut inside, only to see a defender block his goalbound shot, before Truro goalkeeper Jason Chapman denied Thorne with his legs. It was rough justice for the men from Kimberley Stadium as, with the game in the third minute of stoppage time, Walker's deep cross was headed back by Martin for subsitute Mark Vercesi to head home from almost on the line. Victory might have gone to Truro, but the plaudits must go to Saltash, who were a credit to themselves, their supporters and the Peninsula League.