PROUD Colne manager Nigel Coates says his players have earned their label as double winners.

The Reds completed a memorable championship season last night after beating neighbours Great Harwood Town in the North West Counties Division Two Cup final.

An early first-half strike from former Great Harwood man Paul Walker was enough for Colne to add another piece of silverware to their cabinet this season.

And delighted boss Coates said: "I think the players deserved it because of the season we've had - with the Vase and winning the league with five games to go.

"There were quite a few tired legs and knocks towards the end of the game but we got a clean sheet and the win.

"It could have been an historic treble with the Vase, but never mind."

It is Colne's FA Vase exploits and then having to play catch-up in the league which has led them to take their foot off the gas since clinching the title with five games remaining.

Coates hoped they would have enough in the tank to impress in last night's cup final. And his players didn't disappoint as they took a ninth-minute lead.

Walker stepped up to drill a free kick with the outside of his right boot and into the bottom left hand corner from around 20 yards.

And it could easily have been 4-0 after 23 minutes but the Reds failed to capitalise on their dominance and chances.

Kieron Roberts' clearance out of defence fell to Ian Simpson, who hooked the ball over his left shoulder and into the path of Scott Gizon. The Colne captain looked odds on to score as he bore down on goal but drove his shot just wide.

Chris Ingham then turned his marker inside the area but his shot was always rising.

A minute later, Gizon had another guilt-edged chance as Jason Heffernan whipped a great ball in from the left but Gizon, who was totally unmarked, couldn't get his head to it.

Roberts went close eight minutes before the break after cutting in from the right but blazed his left foot shot over the bar.

Great Harwood came out stronger in the second half, with James Coonan going close after Sam Pope pulled the ball back from the by-line, while Walker produced heroics in defence with a superb cover tackle as James Dean looked to burst through on goal.

Paul Mashiter sent a tame shot straight at Ross Baxter before being denied another chance by Gary Rishton's firm challenge.

But Colne stepped up a gear to see out the remainder of the game.

Coates, who was presented with the manager of the month award for April, added: "We played very well in the first half and should have been out of sight. They had a bit of a go at us in the second half but on our first half performance I think we deserved to win it.

"We should have had a minimum of at least three or four goals, but 1-0's good enough.

"It was a cracking goal and being a former Harwood player, Paul enjoyed it."

Great Harwood manager John Hughes said: "Colne were always going to be the team to beat but the lads took a bit of satisfaction from that fact that they weren't whipping boys.

"We let ourselves down a bit by giving the ball away too much, but the average age of the side last night was 22, so they can only learn from that experience and take it in to next season."

COLNE 1

Walker 8

GREAT HARWOOD 0

At Shawbridge Att: 520