In early rounds of the KO Cup the Town's superior footballing skills had carried them to victory over Newport Pagnell, Boston and Deeping Rangers, only for Ar Tarn's route-one approach to provide a steep learning curve for the runaway First Division champions.

Promotion to the top flight will bring Daventry face to face with a method of direct play favoured by a whole host of UCL clubs including Desborough, Stotfold, Holbeach and S and L for starters!

The final could have gone either way with the Town doing well to claw back a two-goal deficit before Paul Caswell's 84th minute winner saw Desborough lift the trophy for the third time in a dozen seasons.

No UCL club has done the league-cup double since Rothwell in 1993, and it looked long odds against Daventry breaking the mould after conceding two goals inside half an hour.

Of the back four, only Aidy Greatrex seemed comfortable on the ball after Desborough's top scorer Michael Byrne had beaten the offside trap to break the deadlock in the 18th minute.

Ar Tarn's long-ball tactics brought back memories of watching Mike Emms' Long Buckby sides in the 1990s, and very effective it was too!
On the half hour Danny Pownall doubled the advantage with an unmarked far-post header from a free-kick.

That looked to be that until Danny Nelson's 24th goal of the season hit a post and ran along the goal-line before entering the net in the 43rd minute.

Better still was to come midway through the second-half.

Ryan Byrne's cross was scrambled over the line at the far post.
Luke Walker got the credit, but from where I was standing it was an own goal by full-back Chris Logan.

Desborough had lost their shape and composure by then, but the Town were unable to capitalise still further and paid the ultimate price when Caswell broke away to score the late winner.

Richard Wesley's pace on the left flank was not put to full use by the Town in the second-half of what turned out to be a jittery performance from the back four.

The Town's midfield was frequently made redundant by Desborough's up-and-under tactics, while Nelson, Tom Berwick and Wesley never quite utilised their pace up front.

There was a touch of anti-climax about Daventry's performance in front of about 350 spectators, but hopefully lessons will be learned with next season in mind.

Daventry Town: Mellings, Walker, Greatrex, Godwin, James, O'Grady, Byrne, Confue, Berwick, Nelson and Wesley.
Subs: (used) Maund and Finlay, (unused) Orford and McBain.
Yellow cards: Confue and Walker.