Wolves 1 Dev.Colts 0 Jubilant scenes greeted the final whistle at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday as Wolves clinched the Martonmere Cup and ended their wait for a first major trophy.

Delirious flag-waving fans ran onto the pitch to celebrate with the players in the Devonshire club's finest hour.

Shaki Crockwell's first half goal was all that separated the teams in a tight match typical of many cup finals, with players' talents somewhat stifled by high stakes and nerves.

But that didn't matter one iota to Wolves, for whom breaking through the silverware barrier was infinitely more important than the quality of the match.

For those caught up in the celebrations, it was difficult to express their overwhelming emotions. Two men who have come to epitomise Wolves' powerful team spirit over the years, coach Dennis Brown and captain Anthony Thomas, had different ways of summarising the same happiness.

Shortly before being drenched with the entire contents of a bottle of champagne, Brown said: "Words can't explain how I feel right now. It's been a long road, which started five years ago when I came to Wolves and we've come a long way in that time.'' Thomas, a Devonshire man and proud of it and a combative midfielder who leads by example on the field, said: "It feels good to win a trophy at last. Now I just want to get my team back to Devonshire and party.'' When the celebrations had calmed down enough for the trophy to be presented to Thomas by Sports Minister Dennis Lister and Bermuda Football Association president Neville Tyrrell, everything had to be just right for the Wolves skipper.

Before the long-awaited moment of lifting the cup in triumph in front of the cheering fans, Thomas paused to wrench off the ribbons in the orange-and-white colours of Colts which adorned one of the silver handles, so it was only the ribbons in the gold-and-black of the winning team which were left decorating the trophy.

From the outset, it was clear that this pack of Wolves were hungry, spurred on not only by their desire to break their trophy duck, but also the painful memory of losing last year's Martonmere final in extra-time to Dandy Town.

In only the fourth minute, Wolves striker Chae Simmons was sent clear by Crockwell's superb pass, but shot wide from 15 yards.

Big Diallo Sharrieff and Albert Caisey tried their luck from long range and Tori Davis also tested Colts goalkeepr Kevin Bean as Wolves peppered their opponents' goal with shots from all angles in the first 20 minutes against a Colts side who looked strangely lethargic.

The pressure finally bore fruit in the 22nd minute. Sharrieff's gigantic throw-in caused panic in the Colts defence, but there looked little danger when the ball dropped to Crockwell near the by-line in the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Crockwell, who turns 19 on Thursday, gave the Wolves fans the present they were all hoping for when he swivelled to hook the ball over the startled Bean from the narrowest of angles to claim a classic opportunist goal.

Colts have won cups for fun over the last two seasons, but for all their winning experience they seemed incapable of stemming the Wolves tide.

Certainly the tactic of playing skipper and defensive lynch pin Shannon Burgess in midfield backfired as the Colts backline looked shaky and stretched.

In fact, the busy Wolves were so successful in closing down Colts that the first shot at goal from Ray Jones' side did not come until first half injury time.

A long ball from Burgess found danger man Aljame Zuill whose fierce first-time effort from 18 yards was heading for the top corner before Wolves 'keeper Corby Durrant dived to his right to palm away in spectacular fashion.

Colts discovered some urgency after the break but failed to penetrate a rock-solid Wolves defence.

A largely forgettable second period still ended agonisingly for Wolves, who used all the three substitutes allowed and then were left with 10 men to see out the last 13 minutes by injuries.

Substitute Adam Outerbridge was injured in a tackle just a minute after entering the fray and had to reurn to the bench. Incredibly, the same fate befell 72nd-minute Wolves substitute Nathan Webb, who was wheeled off on a stretcher after a 10-minute appearance.

Colts failed to capitalise, though Quincy Aberdeen volleyed wide an 88th-minute half-chance. Wolves weathered five long minutes of injury time before three shrill blasts from referee Anthony Mouchette signalled the start of the party.

Coach Brown was not surprised by the hunger his players had shown.

"I told the players it takes more than talent -- to win trophies you have got to display guts and desire and I thought they did that,'' said Bown.

"I thought it was a total team performance and in my view you couldn't pick a man of the match. They stuck together well, particularly when we only had 10 men.

"Last year was a learning process and this year we've grown up a bit and I'm very proud of my players.

"In the first half, they did what I expected but in the second we sat back a bit and let them come at us. We deserved to win.

"I've long said Wolves fans are the best in Bermuda and I'm pleased for them.

They stuck with us through thick and thin, even when we were struggling in Division Two. And I'm pleased for the players who put in a lot of hard work over the summer.'' Wolves in cup wonderland From Page 13 Skipper Thomas said last year's Martonmere Cup final defeat had been a motivating factor.

"Last year it was upsetting not to win after being ahead,'' said Thomas.

"This time, we were not going to leave Somerset without the cup.

"This is a great day for Wolves. I've been with them ever since I was a junior player and this is the first time I've won a trophy and it feels good.'' Wolves: C.Durrant, S.Waldron, A.Caisey, J.Warren, D.Sharrieff, A.Thomas, M.Ray, S.Crockwell (A.Outerbridge 58 mins (J.Peniston 64 mins)), T.Davis, N.Smith, C.Simmons (N.Webb 72 mins).

Colts: K.Bean, D.Zuill, Jermel Belboda, J.Samuels, Jermaine Belboda, S.Burgess, V.Ball (M.Belboda 57 mins), Q.Aberdeen, T.Smith (M.Hollis 51 mins), A.Zuill, M.Gibbons (C.Hill 83 mins).

Men of the match: Nakia Smith (Wolves); Quincy Aberdeen (Colts).

Yellow cards: J.Warren (Wolves); M.Hollis, A.Zuill (Colts).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette