AFTER a gap of several years the Rosebowl final returned to the Mill Hill St Peters ground.

Despite overnight frost and snow, the pitch was in superb condition and, whatever the outcome of the final, neither side would be able to use the playing surface as an excuse.

In bright but chilly conditions, Station kicked off defending the clubhouse end and both teams appeared to be nervous - but it was the Division One side who settled the better and began attacking down the Cabin End left side.

But full back Matt McNamara held firm, putting in crisp tackles and showing good composure under pressure.

Both sides were finding it hard to retain possession and Cabin's David Miller lost control deep in his own half which led to Station's opener.

While Anthony Green put in a superb blocking tackle to prevent Station from scoring with their first attempt, Dave Walker was the first to react to the loose ball and lashed a shot across Paul Lancaster into the far corner of the net.

And the lead was nearly doubled soon after when a flighted free kick from the left by Station's captain Lee Sculpher caused problems in the box but Cabin keeper Lancaster got down smartly to smother Ginley's close range effort.

The tackles were going in thick and fast and the resulting free kicks broke up both sides rhythm - but it was from one of those set pieces that Cabin End drew level.

Danny Gorton hit a superb diagonal ball deep into the Station penalty area where Matt Hitchins rose above a hesitant defence to bullet a header past Ross Dawson and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Cabin End started to come more into the game and Fairbrother's left-footed curler from the right touchline wasn't too far away from giving the Division Two side the lead.

Cabin's main strikeforce, the two Ryans - Walsh and Hoyle - were coming more into the game and it needed all Lee Sculpher's experience to make sure his defensive team-mates kept the threat to a minimum.

With Cabin's Gorton drifting into the middle and showing all his trickery, it needed the hard-tackling Ryan Casey to be on top of his game.

With half time looming and neither side giving an inch, Station's Craig Buck was shown a yellow card after he scythed down Cabin's Gorton who quickly followed him in to the book.

A dramatic start to the second half saw Station regain the lead within a minute of the restart. A needless foul in the centre circle saw the free kick sent deep into the Cabin area which was only partially cleared to Craig Buck who controlled the ball and fired it into the net in one smooth movement.

Spurred on by their supporters, the Cabin regrouped and began to put pressure on the Station defence and a long-range attempt from defender McNamara whistled just wide before Dawson got down swiftly at his right hand post to cover a shot from Ryan Hoyle.

In this purple patch of pressure, Walsh worked his way inside the Station box only to find himself on the floor but referee Billy King waved play on despite frantic claims for a penalty.

Gorton continued to torment the Station defence and after another bit of skilful play, his centre from the left was scrambled off the line while Lancaster smoothered the follow-up shot.

But Cabin could not make their pressure count and with 20 minutes remaining, Station made sure of victory when Ryan Casey latched on to a loose ball to slide the ball home from close range.

Victory gave Station the Rose Bowl for the third time but it was a hard-earned win - a game every player will no just how hard it was when they woke up the next morning.