GOALSCORING hero Mike Marsden believes Hinton have the capability of challenging for the Hereford Times Herefordshire Football League Premier Division title next season.

Marsden scoring the winner for the city side against Pegasus Reserves that clinched the Clubsport Cup at Belmont Abbey.

Hinton finished fourth in the division, 15 points off league winners Ewyas Harold.

But Marsden believes that, with the addition of a couple of new players, there is no reason why they could not challenge for Harold's crown.

"Our problem is consistency of getting the same side together," said Marsden.

"We've got a lot of good youngsters, but for one reason or another they're not available every week.

"We've just got to turn up with the same players week in week out and a set squad and do what we do because we will be hard to beat.

"We're quite organised with Rod (Haslam) at the back and with Darren Birch in midfield

"If we keep the squad together and add a couple to it, there is no reason why we can't compete next season."

Despite conceding only 23 goals, it was Hinton's lack of goalscoring prowess (only 26 scored) that ultimately meant that they were never in contention for the league title.

"You look at our record in the league, I think we're top in clean sheets," said Marsden.

"But our goalscoring record isn't brilliant.

"We tend to go a goal ahead and shut up shop.

"You could call Graham (Andrews) and Tratts (Paul Trattell) the Mourinhos of the Hereford Prem because that's what we do.

"We get a goal and then defend for our lives."

Joint-manager Andrews added that, although the club 'over-achieved' this season, Hinton should be looking at winning leagues and cups every year.

"We gave ourselves a target this year to be in in top half of the league and to be really competing" he said.

"We lost against teams that we shouldn't have lost to, so to finish fourth was really good.

"The other target was to get to a cup final, which we've done, so we've over-achieved.

"But there is no extra pressure for next year because a club like Hinton should be winning trophies and should be winning leagues.

"That is exactly the attitude that we have at Hinton because we want league titles for our first team and our reserves."

Marsden's goal after he nicked the ball past Pegasus goalkeeper Jamie Roach after Roach failed to grab hold of a header that bounced in front of him.

"I just gambled," said Marsden.

"The ball bounced on a hard pitch and I just snuck in and tucked it away."

Andrews said he was delighted that Marsden scored his first goal of the season.

"I have said to Marsdy for several weeks that he's going to score a goal this season so to score the last goal of the season was great," said Andrews.

"Mike plays 100% every game and is Mr Reliable."

However, it was the fine goalkeeping of Jon Hopkins that ultimately won the game for Hinton thanks to a number of fine saves in the second half.

"He did fantastic and had a great performance.

"He's a really good keeper and deserves the plaudits, he was excellent."

Hopkins' saves included denying Kyle Panniers in the 59th minute before pulling off an excellent stop from Ashley Lear.

It was looking every likely that Peggy would equalise and had a great chance five minutes from time.

But Hopkins somehow kept out Ru Wood's point-blank shot five minutes from time after DannyHill set him up.

The only time Hopkins was beaten was in the 27th minute, but Wood's effort hit the foot of a post.

Kingstone Harriers meanwhile won the Supplementary Cup after surprisingly beating Division 2 winners Sinkums 2-0.

With Tenbury Town and Kington Town Reserves having a number of league games to play earlier this season, a mini-league was set up by the HFL for all the other teams in Division 2.

The top four subsequently went through to the semi-finals, with the winners of those games facing each other in the final, which was played at Belmont Abbey following the Clubsport Cup final.