ASH Taylor’s strike early in the second half saw Swindon Supermarine come from behind to win the Wiltshire Senior Cup for the first time in their history tonight against near neighbours Highworth Town.

The Worthians, who ply their trade a tier lower than Marine in the Hellenic League, took a surprise lead in the first half at the County Ground when Ashley Edenborough lashed home against his old club.

However, Josh Parsons’ stunning free-kick soon cancelled that out for Southern League side Supermarine before Taylor struck just four minutes after half-time to put Dave Webb’s team in front.

The hopes of Jeff Roberts’ Worthians were then extinguished for good with just over 20 minutes to go as Aysa Corrick was shown a straight red card for a late lunge.

Highworth had the game’s first real sight of goal after 10 minutes when Edenborough was able to beat the offside trap and race onto a through ball from Corrick, but as the Worthians striker cut inside to shoot, Ryan Wood was able to get back and block the effort out for a corner.

That kicked off a hectic sequence of events that eventually led to the opening goal six minutes later, with Highworth the side to break the deadlock.

First, Edenborough robbed the ball off Marine keeper Connor Johns but as Corrick tried to feed the ball back across the face of goal, Taylor was able to clear, with the ball eventually coming to Parsons and he was able to thread Sam Morris into the Worthians box but his shot on the angle was deflected over the bar.

After the subsequent corner had been headed over the top, Highworth keeper Kent Kauppinen went long with his goal kick and Edenborough was again able to catch the Marine defence napping to race in one-on-one with Johns and send a cool finish into the bottom corner to put his side ahead.

The lead lasted little more than six minutes, though, and a sublime free-kick from Parsons hauled Marine level as he curled a stunning effort from the edge of the box into the top corner with Kauppinen helpless.

After a breathless opening quarter, the game finally began to settle down and it remained 1-1 until half-time. Although no further clear-cut chances arrived, Highworth had the better of the action up to the interval, with Marine frequently pushed onto the back-foot by their lower-league neighbours.

Webb clearly rallied his Marine troops at the break as they took just four minutes of the second half to pull ahead for the first time. Connor Waldon climbed highest to meet a Joe Selman corner, nodding down for Taylor to drive low under Kauppinen.

Highworth had a good chance to equalise just past the hour mark when Corrick was able to skip forward before finding Edenborough in the box, but after cutting back inside Jon Else, the striker rushed his strike and it went well wide.

However, the mountain facing Roberts’ side then got steeper with just over 20 minutes to go as they were reduced to 10 men when Corrick was shown a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Supermarine substitute Callum Parsons.

They refused to roll over lightly, though, and went agonisingly close to an equaliser in the dying stages only for Johns to keep out Edenborough’s powerful low strike with his feet and ensure it was Marine who lifted the trophy.

SWINDON SUPERMARINE: Connor Johns, Jon Else, Ryan Morgan, Ryan Wood (Zak Westlake 46), Ash Taylor, Sam Morris, Joe Selman (Callum Parsons 61), Brad Hooper (Jack Alexander 58), Connor Waldon, Josh Parsons (capt), Connor Thompson. Sub not used: Macauley Dobson.

HIGHWORTH TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Ellis McSharry (Kieron Gleed 79), Lewis Brown (Nathan Gambling 78), Ross Adams (capt), Tom Cole, John Davoile, Luke Cousins, Chris Taylor, Ashley Edenborough, Aysa Corrick, Aaron Ferris. Subs not used: Fabian McCarthy, Billie Aldrich, Josh McGrory.

Referee: Phil Staynings

Attendance: 518