SAM Hughes struck twice for Saltash United to end Falmouth Town's reign as Cornwall Senior Cup winners in their quarter-final tie at Bickland Park.

Hughes netted twice in the second half as Saltash gained their revenge for their defeat to Town in last season's final, ending the reign of the team that had ended their own reign last year.

Saltash were quickest to settle into what was a fairly quiet first half, with Chris Menhenick firing over from six yards and Ryan Richards blazing over early chance.

Town had their first real chance of the game soon after when Tim Nixon won the ball in the middle of the park and sprayed it out to Olly Walker, whose shot across goal was high and wide.

Saltash were beginning to control the game and passed up three good opportunities, with the first of those seeing Richards tee up the unmarked Hughes whose shot was blocked.

An uncharacteristic error from James Ward allowed Hughes to nick the ball and slip it to Dave Barker, who was denied by an excellent recovery block from the centre half, before Callum Martindale found space on the left of the box and fired a low shot inches wide of the far post.

But Town ended the half stronger with Joe Cooper's effort almost being turned in by Martyn Duff before Walker wasted a good chance when he stumbled when in on goal.

But the hosts were punished for a sloppy start to the second half as the Ashes took the lead inside six minutes of the restart, with Hughes' close-range shot from a corner being adjudged to have crossed the line by the officials.

Town looked brighter after the goal and saw a golden chance go begging when the referee played advantage following a foul on Walker. Play went on as Duff put Brabyn through on goal, but his shot was well saved by Ryan Rickard.

But the crucial second goal came with 14 minutes left of the 90 when a quick attack saw Sam Farrant put Hughes through on the left, with the latter beating Ward before powering the ball into the far corner.

The home side had the lion's share of the ball in the remaining time but struggled to test Rickard, with Barner's volley at goal almost being steered home by Sam Pickup in what was their best chance.

Saltash played the final few minutes with ten men when Callum Martindale picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Ryan Chinn, but the visitors stood firm to book their place in the final four once again.

Falmouth: R Barnes, L Barner, S Kellow, R Chinn, J Cooper, J Ward, O Walker, D Broglino (R Martt 78), L Brabyn, M Duff (S Pickup 65), T Nixon. Subs (unused): A Westgarth, O Moody.

Saltash: R Rickard, D Barker, C Martindale, D Hart, C O'Brien, C Menhenick, S Cleary, S Farrant, S Hughes, R Richards, D Lewis. Subs: S Leary, D Trott, J Simmonds, H Wilson, L Phillips.