AT the age of 39, Chris Parkhouse has been a Northam Lions player since before Rob Crump and Brian Levien were born.

But the three combined with devastating effect on Easter Monday to score four of the goals which saw the Lions to a 6-4 victory over Barnstaple AAC Reserves in the Holman Cup final at Rocksfield, North Molton.

It was the highest-scoring final since Hatherleigh beat Lynton 6-4 in the 1962/63 competition climax — and 16-year-old Levien evoked memories of that day.

Watching Holman Cup chairman Roy Pugsley was a Lynton player in that final 47 years ago and he recalled how 15-year-old Hatherleigh winger Norman Piper ran rings around his team.

North Tawton-born Piper went on to make 215 appearances for Plymouth Argyle and 313 for Portsmouth.

And on Monday it was another young winger, 16-year-old Levien, who deservedly took the man of the match award after scoring twice and generally making Ammies' life a misery. "He was very, very good," said Pugsley

Levien took advantage of a wicked following wind and downhill slope to seize on a kick from goalkeeper Steve Ronald and tuck the ball in after a single bounce to bring the Lions level at 2-2 on 37 minutes.

Then he scored the game's critical goal, firing home unmarked to put his team 4-2 ahead two minutes into the second half.

Trailing 3-2 at half-time, Barnstaple came out full of optimism with the wind and considerable slope in their favour. But Levien's second goal and another a minute later from player-manager Cosmo Ayres destroyed Ammies' hopes at 5-2 down.

Levien not only showed a predatory instinct but trickery on the ball and a willingness to chase back.

But, rather than dwell on his own performance, Levien paid tribute to Parkhouse and 18-year-old Crump.

"Rob is awesome, he sets you up quite a lot," said Levien. "Chris is always there when you need him."

After Ed Yeo had shot Barnstaple into a ninth-minute lead, Lions captain Gavin Souch drilled low to equalise on 31 minutes.

A Karl Smith header restored Barnstaple's lead before Levien equalised. Then, either side of half-time, Crump stamped his mark.

Taking his season's total to 37 goals, Crump buried a close-range half-volley on 44 minutes and, immediately after the break, set up goals for Levien and Ayres.

Crump slotted a pass inside for Levien to pick his spot and a flick-on by the 18-year-old centre-forward enabled Ayres to fire in.

Neil Bousahla raised Barnstaple's hopes by converting a 54th-minute penalty for 5-3 but Parkhouse sealed the victory for Lions with an angled 72nd-minute shot.

A Smith effort, deflected into his own net by Carl Jenkins, completed the scoring in the 90th minute.

As he walked off, Parkhouse said: "My days are numbered so it is good to get another trophy."

He joined the Lions in 1989 and, observing the youth of his fellow cup final assassins, he said: "They could both be my sons, couldn't they?"

Ayres praised Parkhouse's loyalty. "He has been at the club for 20 years, he's brilliant," he said.

Although Barnstaple are just above Northam in the North Devon Journal League Senior Division, it was the third time in as many meetings this season that the Lions had beaten the Ammies, dumping them out of the league cup and winning at home in the league.

Victory in their first Holman Cup final was a welcome success for a club that finished consistently in mid-table in the Premier Division until their relegation in 2007/08.

Since then they have dropped anchor in the middle of the Senior Division, placing eighth last season and set for a similar finish this campaign.

The fact Northam had the chance at all to win this trophy is largely thanks to organiser Alan Webster.

The Holman Cup, inaugurated in 1924, was heading for the bin in 2007 when the Lynton-based organisers stepped down.

But Webster, and North Molton Sports and Community Centre, took it on.

"It's a shame when history dies and North Molton wanted a cup to be based here," said Webster.

"We are lucky that the club took it on and that we found a sponsor (M Way and Son Transport)."

Not only has Webster kept the Holman Cup alive, he has upheld its finest traditions — including the post-match meal.

The teams, too, gave the day a touch of elegance, Barnstaple arriving dressed in all black with white ties, Northam sporting green cravats.

The cravats could be blamed on defender James Harold who, according to assistant manager Nobby Clarke, "comes to football wearing cravats and is the smartest player in the league — the David Ginola of Northam Lions".

Except that, on the pitch, the Ginola role belonged to the style and deadly finishing of Lion cub Brian Levien.

Barnstaple AAC Reserves: Shaun Walker, Russell Ovey, Simon Osment, Luke Ovey, Neil Bousahla, Charlie Logie, Ed Yeo, Andrew King, Karl Smith, Ian Johnstone, Mark Beades. Subs: Mark Ellis, Steven Isaac, Gary King, George Turner, Darren West.

Northam Lions: Steve Ronald, Andy Fee, Paul Wright, Lewis Allen, Callum Bowdan, Gavin Souch, Rob Crump, Cosmo Ayres, Brian Levien, James Harold, Matt Cloak. Subs: Ben Milburn, Carl Jenkins, Chris Parkhouse, Jason McGinley, Nobby Clarke.

Referee: Mike Kearney. Assistants: Richard Walters, Dave Loder.