THE inaugural North Wilts and District League cup finals weekend proved a tremendous success until the heavens opened.
A superb succession of showpiece games took place at Swindon Town's County Ground on Saturday, but Sunday's programme was a total washout after heavy overnight rain left the playing surface waterlogged.
Fixture secretary Mark Smedley said: "We all turned up on Sunday morning to find the pitch at the County Ground well and truly waterlogged.
"After discussions with Swindon Town we took the decision to postpone the five finals scheduled on Sunday. In places there were large puddles."
League officials have moved quickly to rearrange the postponed matches at the County Ground this Sunday.
Smedley said: "We are really delighted that we have been able to get the games rearranged at the County Ground. It was the only date we could get and a big thank you to Swindon Town for making it possible."
Stratton Juniors led the way in the under 15 final, as an emphatic 5-0 win over Ferndale Rodbourne secured the second leg of their treble attempt.
Stratton have already claimed the league title and bid to make it three trophies this weekend when they face Trowbridge in the County Cup final.
A James Baldwin goal set them on their way and Lee Curtis added a second before the break.
Stratton stepped up a gear in the second period with Curtis extending the lead before Tom Underwood and Anthony Cacchio sealed the victory.
Stratton manager Gerry O'Hara said: "The boys were very nervous but they settled down in the second half.
"We won the league in January and we're going for the treble so it's so far, so good."
Amesbury's under 12 team were next to taste success with an epic 5-2 victory over Old Town United Colts.
Amesbury caught the Swindon side cold, scoring in the opening minute through Steve Holvey's free-kick.
Sam Aldridge doubled the lead with a looping effort before half-time.
Amesbury moved into a seemingly unassailable 4-0 lead with strikes from Lloyd Barr and Harvey Coker after the interval but Old Town halved the deficit through Steve Nesbitt and Dean Hobbis.
Aldridge then erased the Colts' hopes of a comeback with a late fifth.
The last final also produced plenty of goals with Eastville under 13s beating their Westlea counterparts 4-0 in a closer game than the scoreline suggests.
After a goalless first half, the deadlock was broken five minutes after the break when a Westlea player turned the ball into his own net from a corner.
Max Etheridge extended the lead with a double and Lee Smith finished in style to secure the cup.
Westlea have the chance to exact revenge in a fortnight when they meet again in the County Cup final.
Exhibition matches were staged for the under seven and under eight age groups, with the four teams at each level with the season's highest sportsmanship marks meeting in friendly games.
Cricklade Youth, Westbrook, Shrivenham and Ferndale Rodbourne Tigers took part in the under seven event, while Highworth Juniors, Eldene Rangers, Wootton Bassett Town and Westlea Wanderers played matches at under eight level.
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