Northwich Victoria 2 Tranmere Rovers res 1

VICS boss Jim Gannon believes his side’s physical power helped them to win last Tuesday’s Cheshire FA Senior Cup final against a young Tranmere team.

Midfield pair Abou Sanogo and Brian Summerskill scored the goals that established a 2-0 lead for the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League outfit before Evan Gumbs halved their opponents’ deficit late on at Weaver Stadium.

The former Stockport County manager, beaten only once in league and cup since replacing Lee Ashcroft, suggested the margin of victory might have been greater after Northwich captured the trophy for the 19th time.

He said: “It was a great result, but it should have been more convincing because we dominated.

“When we imposed ourselves in the second half we were able to put their goal under more pressure, and ultimately that told.

“They had good youngsters, but we were too strong for them.”

Tranmere, conquerors of Bootle in the Liverpool Senior Cup the previous evening, fell behind nine minutes after the interval when Sanogo latched onto Jordan Hadfield’s pass before rifling home.

Vics, winners now in three of the past five county cup finals, doubled their lead with a quarter of an hour left when Gary Burnett teed up Brian Summerskill to score with a low drive.

Gumbs pounced on stand-in defender Michael Clarke’s weak clearance to reduce the deficit with four minutes left, but Vics held on.

Gannon added: “It was unfortunate Tranmere could not put out as strong a side as those that had played in previous rounds of the competition.

“We outnumbered them in attacking areas as the game went on which led to well-taken goals.”