Bourne Town beat Blackstones in the semi-final of the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy
Bourne Town moved a step closer to securing their first piece of county silverware for nearly 20 years after booking a place in the final of the Lincolnshire Senior Trophy on Wednesday.
The Wakes ran out 2-1 winners over neighbours Blackstones in the semi-final clash at the JJ Mac Stadium.
It set up a cup final clash with United Counties League Premier Division North rivals Lincoln United as the Wakes seek to end their wait for county glory after last lifting the Lincolnshire Senior A Cup in the 2005-06 season.
Brad Marshall and Zak Munton netted the goals for Bourne before Josh Barrett halved the deficit for their Division One visitors.
The Wakes had gone into the match against their in-form visitors having suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
However, they signalled their early intentions by taking a second minute lead when Marshall headed home from an early corner.
It sparked a barrage of pressure from Bourne and it needed a superb save from Blackstones goalkeeper Max Peverell to prevent Henry Dunn from doubling the home side's lead shortly after.
Brad Gothard then saw a header cleared off the line before a sweet strike from Shaun Archer went just over the Blackstones crossbar.
The visitors had arrived on the back of a five-match winning run and started to work their way back into the contest as the first half wore on.
Nathan Rudman and Johan Coughlan both flashed shots wide of the home goal but Bourne goalkeeper Dan Swan wasn't seriously troubled in the opening period.
Peverell was swiftly off his line to block a Munton effort early in the second half before the Wakes marksman headed a decent opening straight at the visiting custodian.
The Wakes then doubled their lead in the 63rd minute as Martin Tudosa found Dunn in the area and he squared the ball for Munton to sweep home their second goal.
Blackstones, to their credit, refused to accept defeat and the introduction of several of their Under 18s from the substitutes' bench fuelled their quest to get back into the game.
The marauding Coughlan was denied by a superb covering challenge from Richard Jones before Stones reduced the arrears in the 76th minute as Barrett bent a low shot into the far corner of the home net.
Bourne could have restored their two-goal advantage but Robbie Ellis headed over from a Henry Dunn free-kick as the home side's experience saw out the game against the youthful exuberance of their visitors.
Bourne boss Michael Goode said: "We wanted to come out as always and play front foot football and we especially had to do it after two losses.
"We could have been a couple of goals up inside 10 minutes which settles everyone down because, with the conditions of all pitches at this time of year, one slip could cost you.
"Blackstones are a good side and they're in absolutely tip-top form but I felt we limited them to one shot on target.
"Any semi-final is just about winning the game and we can now put the final to bed for a little while.
"It would have been weighing on our minds a little bit when you're playing your in-form local rivals after two defeats so it was good to get through.
"We just needed to win and it's brilliant for the club to be in a cup final."
Bourne return to Premier Division North action on Saturday with a home match against Kimberley while Blackstones' focus turns back to securing a place in the Division One play-offs as they host Rainworth.
