Herne Bay United 3

Middlesbrough 6

AT A packed Pier Pavilion, Bay United went into this National Cup final looking to complete a fifth consecutive league and cup double.

But against a Middlesbrough side who look to be coming of age, and were also out to make amends for finishing as league runners-up, it wasn't to be.

United, without captain Simon Hosking and fellow first team regular Dendy Hudson, started strongly and took an early lead through Joel de Figueiredo.

But from here United started to squander their chances and Middlesbrough made the most of this, moving into 2-1 lead after a period of intense pressure.

United wasted a good chance to level when Neil Austin missed from the spot when his side were awarded a power play.

It was 2-1 to Middlesbrough at the break.

United came out in the second half with a change in defensive tactics which unsettled things to start, but it left them vulnerable to the counter-attack as their opponents added a third goal.

Bay never give up but did not look their usual selves.

They did fight back to 2-3 courtesy of Austin, but Middlesbrough again widened the gap and left United fighting to find a way back into the game.

Middlesbrough made it 5-2 before de Figueiredo again gave Bay hope, scoring from the penalty spot.

But it wasn't to be as a scrappy United were punished again, this time from a free hit.

Speaking after the game, Bay's Brendan Barker said: "We are gutted not to have won today.

"We would like to win every match we play but today we were not in it, let's not take anything away from the opposition as they were the best team on the day.

"Now we will take a step back and a few weeks well earned break. We must take the positives. We're happy to have retained the league title, which is our ultimate goal, and will be again next season.

"This season has been long, and considering the Premier League title was decided four weeks ago, it has been difficult to keep players motivated and training consistently. My own focus now is to get fit for England duty."

Next season's Premier League campaign is expected to start later than usual, in late September or early October. It will be United' s last season at the Pier Pavilion before moving to a new purpose built venue at Herne Bay High School for September 2011.

Herne Bay United: Garlick, Williamson, Austin, B Barker, Barton, de Figueiredo, Singleton, Smith, M Barker, Clarke.

TWO new signings, Potuguese players Luis Goncalves and Nuno da Silva, have already trained with Bay.

A spokesman for the club said: "We welcome these new additions to our first team squad."

THERE were mixed fortunes for two other Bay United sides, also in cup final action at the Pier Pavilion on Saturday.

Despite seeing his under-15 side lose 5-0 to Peterborough, manager Phil McVey said: "The Peterborough players are all twice the size of ours, and a good couple of years older as well, so to push them as hard as we did was a phenomenal effort." The under-13s did better in their final against Bury, winning a tough match 6-3

McVey said: "What an amazing performance! To a man the team all followed instructions, and were a joy to manage.

"I cannot fault the performance in any way."