EYNESBURY Rovers FC retained the Cary White Memorial Trophy at the club s Hall Road ground on Saturday. Ten teams from across the region competed for the trophy, which was founded in 2002 in tribute to former Eynesbury player Cary White. He was killed in

EYNESBURY Rovers FC retained the Cary White Memorial Trophy at the club's Hall Road ground on Saturday.

Ten teams from across the region competed for the trophy, which was founded in 2002 in tribute to former Eynesbury player Cary White. He was killed in a road crash days before his 21st birthday.

Eynesbury triumphed 2-0 in the final with goals from captain Ross West and Kirk Kidd seeing off the challenge of Great Paxton B. It is the fourth time in five years the club has won its own tournament.

The event was played in 11-a-side format and matches lasted a straight 20 minutes with no break.

Eynesbury topped Group One after grabbing a crucial 2-1 win against The Old Sun in their final group game to move up from third and potential elimination. Stilton were the other qualifiers from Group One.

Great Paxton B topped Group Two with the club's A side finishing runners-up despite a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Biggleswade United early on.

Both semi-finals finished in 2-0 victories, with Eynesbury Rovers defeating Paxton A and Paxton B beating Stilton by the same score.

Rovers' victory ensured the cup was won by the hosts for the fourth time in five tournaments.

Eynesbury manager Dean Shipp, who was one of those behind the founding of the competition, said: "This tournament is a fitting tribute in memory of Cary who was a very popular player here and is still sorely missed. He was the ultimate clown, a very talented footballer and I have no doubt he would have been in the first team set-up now had he still been with us.

"In football terms it's also a good workout for our lads in the run-up to the start of the season. You just can't match the competitive format in training.

"It's pleasing to win but more importantly we get to see the lads playing together as well as looking at a few new faces."

Eynesbury take on Stotford in a friendly tomorrow (Thursday) at Hall Road (kick-off 7.30pm) before travelling to Somersham on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Eynesbury kick off their United Counties League Division 1 season on Saturday, August 19, with a home fixture against Sileby.