REDDITCH Borough’s last-ditch cup triumph was testament to their never-say-die spirit, according to boss Julian Workman.

Defender Garrath Hodgetts struck the winner in the second minute of added time on Thursday as Borough lifted the Evesham Hospital Junior Cup with a 2-1 comeback victory over Inkberrow.

It was the 12th goal of a prolific campaign for centre-half Hodgetts, who guided a shot from a far-post scramble back across goal and through a crowded penalty area to decide matters at Jubilee Stadium, Evesham.

Despite dominating possession for most of the match, Borough had to survive scares as Inkberrow hit the post prior to Ellis Kalach’s opener as well as spurning a golden chance to go two up through George Thomas.

But once Redditch’s lively frontrunner Billy Garvey converted the 75th-minute penalty he had earned, it was one-way traffic with Hodgetts on hand to finally make the pressure pay from an injury-time corner.

“I think we can take more pride from this performance than many others that might have been more pleasing on the eye,” said Workman.

“We were on the front foot for most of the match but fair play to Inkberrow, they dug in and made life more difficult for us than some of the teams in our division have managed to. “It was difficult. We did everything right without things quite clicking in the final third and as we pressed more and more, it left them with gaps to break into.

“The biggest plus for me was that we didn’t change our approach when we went a goal down. We kept faith with what we were doing and it paid off in the end.

“It was deserved but we must give credit to Inkberrow who pushed us all the way. I was just so pleased to lift the trophy for our army of supporters who travelled in great numbers again and created a brilliant atmosphere.”