St John’s were crowned Cuppers champions for the ninth time at Grange Road on Friday night after they managed to overcome Pembroke 3-1 after extra-time.

Pembroke had taken the lead in the first half when Marcus Nielsen expertly tucked away a quick attacking move, but Charlie Selway pulled John’s level before half time, though it would take until extra-time before St John’s could finally put away a resilient Pembroke outfit.

Pembroke have now suffered back-to-back Cuppers final heartbreak, having lost to Jesus in similar circumstances last season, having taken the game to extra time. They are still yet to lift the Cuppers trophy in their history.

After a nervy and scrappy start, the game quickly took shape, with St John’s looking to have the majority of the ball possession, and with Pembroke looking to pick them off. On a bouncing surface, the game had a real college football feel, with neither side showing that much quality in possession, instead relying on tenacity and work rate to get ahead.

Pembroke looked to be more effective going forward early on, focusing their attacking forays through the excellent David Ifere, who put in a tireless shift up front. Always a threat from set-pieces and also from Phillip Griggs’s pinpoint Delap-esque throw-ins, they looked more likely to score despite St John’s’ superior control of the ball.

And indeed it was Pembroke who had the first sight of goal. A free kick taken by goalkeeper Josh Banthorpe on halfway caught the St John’s back line flat-footed, allowing Marcus Nielsen the space for a diving header that only narrowly went wide of the far post.

Pembroke held the greater threat for the majority of the opening period, and St John’s continued to look nervy in set-piece situations. David Ifere struck the outside of the post on 20 minutes but was judged to have committed a dubious foul in the build-up. Five minutes later, however, Pembroke had the lead.

Another long ball forward aimed at Ifere fell to Nielsen, who quickly knocked the ball to his right before firing a low effort from the edge of the area past Ballard into the bottom right hand corner. An excellent finish, and on the balance of play, it was a deserved lead.

St John’s struggled to create many chances as Pembroke continued to press their opponents. But gradually, they began to get a grip of the game as the likes of Dan Forde and Andrea Filippa were able to spray more passes out wide, bringing the likes of Selway and Sedlak into play.

Right on half time, St John’s were level. A cut back from the left hand-side of the eighteen-yard line evaded everyone in the penalty area, falling into the path of Selway, who left footed it to push the ball past Banthorpe, despite the Pembroke keeper getting a hand to it.

After the break, St John’s tightened their grip on the game. For the majority of the second period, they were camped in the Pembroke half but found themselves unable to carve out any openings. In fact, it was Pembroke who created the better chances early on, proving to be particularly threatening on the counter. David Ifere brought a good save out of Ballard who was quick off his line to deny the forward time to finish, with the rebound falling to Griggs who was unable to get his foot over his effort. The Pembroke striker had another sight of goal when Marcus Nielsen slipped him through after an excellent run down the left hand side, only to see his low effort palmed away by Ballard.

St John’s did, however, look more likely to score as the half wore on. Fatigue clearly was having the greater impact on Pembroke, and despite the best efforts of their vocal supporters (who far outnumbered those of John’s), they really began to feel the effects of the pressure they exerted in the first half.

Yet for all their possession, St John’s lacked potency. Frequently they looked to bypass the midfield in order to use the channels and Alex Gaskell's speed, but really their only significant threat came from set pieces, where Letrilliart’s delivery more than once found an unmarked John’s head, but they were unable to turn the ball goalwards.

St John’s best chances came through Gaskell and Sedlak. The latter picked up on some hesitancy in the Pembroke back four, breaking through only to have his shot pushed away by Banthorpe. Sedlak too missed a glorious opportunity when Gaskell sent an excellent delivery across the goal-face, yet from just a matter of yards out, he failed to make any kind of meaningful contact.

At the end of the ninety minutes, deep into the allotted stoppage time of four minutes, St John’s could have nicked it. Alex Gaskell took advantage of some hesitant defending and his ricocheted effort only narrowly missed the post.

Extra time beckoned, reminiscent of last year’s cup final (albeit with far fewer goals). For Pembroke, it would end the same way.

Incredibly, neither side elected to make a substitution in the ninety minutes, despite several players going down with cramp.

St John’s continued to put the pressure on in extra time. Gaskell had an effort superbly saved by Banthorpe, whilst Selway and Sedlak continued to stretch the play as they had done all evening.

In the centre of the pitch, fitness was beginning to make the difference. The midfield three of Filippa, Forde and Letrilliart were beginning to assert themselves as their superior fitness prevailed.

St John’s took the lead in a rather straightforward fashion. A long, hopeful lob from Andrea Fillippa over the back four was pounced upon by Gaskell who raced through on goal. His first effort was a poor one, straight at Banthorpe, but fortunately for the Blues man the ball fell back into his path, and he calmly slotted it into the net.

Pembroke never looked like getting back on level terms from this point on, and despite a couple of changes, they still lacked the impetus to get back into the game. At the start of the second half of extra time, the game was over. Alex Gaskell doubled his tally, prodding home from eight yards after surging through a tired Pembroke back line.

From here, the game was a mere formality for St John’s who were able to comfortably see the game out. Gaskell was denied a Cuppers final hat-trick by an excellent Banthorpe in the match's dying moments.

As the full time whistle blew, the St John’s faithful surged onto the field to celebrate with their heroes. But credit too must go to the Pembroke faithful who, as well as being by far the most vocal, went onto the pitch to console their defeated side.

St John’s, on reflection, certainly deserved to win the game. Pembroke’s high-intensity first half could not be maintained as the game wore on, and St John’s took control, with fitness levels certainly playing a part.

Commiserations to Pembroke and their captain Mark Bittlestone, as they have now lost back-to-back Cuppers finals, both in extra time. Their agonising wait for their first Cuppers win goes on.

St John’s captain Duncan Drysdale had the honour of lifting the Cuppers trophy; making John's winners of one of the oldest competitions in world football, and one they hadn't won since 2004.

Attention now turns back to the league, where everything is still to play for, with both these sides still harbouring outside hopes of lifting the title.