An early strike from Michael Richardson proved to be the decisive moment of this cagey cup final as West End clung on to clinch the trophy.

Richardson showed he was in the wide awake club and was alert to latch on to Andrew Rooney's deep cross to fire past Knuzden keeper Dave Cruickshank at his near post.

Both sides created enough chances to add more goals to the final but in the end the midfield man's goal proved to be enough.

Knuzden were left to rue their missed opportunities to at least take the game in to extra time.

Soon after Richardson's strike, Dale Bullen had a great chance to equaliser but he snapped at his shot which went wide and then he was inches away from connecting with Liam Bagley's cross.

In between, West End's Ryan Shorrock had a header cleared off the line.

At the other end the bustling Bagley latched on to a long ball by Rhys Ainsworth but after a strong run his desire to get the ball on to his right foot enabled Jason Smith to get a covering tackle in.

Two minutes later Bagley fired when team-mate Bullen was better placed.

The game opened up early in the second half and Bullen was inches away from an equaliser but saw his shot crashed against the bar before Cruickshank tipped over Jolyon Lowe's shot after good work by Shannon.

With Knuzden pushing forward for an equaliser they were prone to be caught on the attack and twice Denis Greenwood went close with good efforts.

West End's solid defence held firm to the end and only another good save from Cruickshank denied Ryan Shorrock from doubling their lead.

But in the end just one goal was enough.

West End CYC...1

Knuzden Youth...0

at Crown Ground, Accrington Stanley

WEST END CYC: Damian Linley, Matt O'Leary, Simon Gill, Michael Richardson, Adam Holden, Jason Smith, Chris Shannon, Jolyon Lowe, Ryan Shorrock, Denis Greenwood, Andrew Rooney. Subs: Scott Morris, Darren Lynch, Aiden McVey.

KNUZDEN YOUTH: Dave Cruickshank, Kyle Croft, Steve Berko, Steve Saunders, Rhys Ainsworth, Andy Greenwood, Anthony Beddows, Kane Slater, Lee Jones, Dale Bullen, Liam Bagley. Subs: Matthew Conning, Dean Riley, Jayson Pearce.