Trojans survived a first half penalty scare to retain their hold on the England Hockey Harrod UK Trophy with a 3-0 win over Banbury in the wind and rain at East Grinstead.

In complete contrast to last season's cup final drama, when they wiped out a 3-1 deficit to beat Slough 4-3, Trojans cruised to a straight-forward victory.

They experienced an anxious moment when Banbury - newly promoted into South Premier League, Division 2 alongside Trojans next season - wasted a 20th minute penalty flick.

But once Wayne Shepherd put Trojans in front from a flick six minutes later, the cup was always destined to spend another 12 months in the Stoneham trophy cabinet.

Colin French added a second six minutes after half-time and Paul Hilton tied things up on the hour.

Trojans' play and performance didn't rise to any lofty heights, but on a foul afternoon weatherwise, it didn't need to.

The aquatic underfoot conditions at East Grinstead's magnificent complex were never conducive to fast, free flowing hockey.

"We asked the EHA officials to saturate both shooting circles before the start of play, but we ended up having the entire surface jet-hosed," explained Trojans captain Craig Sommerville.

"Just as we were about to start, it began pouring with rain and the superb pitch switched from being water-based to waterlogged."

Players struggled to keep their feet, with water spraying everywhere whenever challenges were made.

Numerous long range ground passes simply held up in the wet.

It was evident from the start that Trojans were the stronger side.

Shepherd, making up for missing last season's EHA Trophy triumph, twice saw penalty corner drag flicks beaten out, while Banbury keeper Ben Johnson made superb saves to beat out shots from Chris Wiseman and Duncan Stewart.

Banbury, who had come into the final on the back of 14 wins from their last 16 Regional League games and freshly promoted from the SPL play-offs, relied on breaks.

They appeared a little overawed, but when Suni Bolina was penalised when a shot struck his foot in the goal area, the Oxfordshire underdogs had a great chance to take the lead.

They wasted it.

Steve Cole guessed correctly, diving to his right to beat out Craig Irvine's under-hit penalty flick.

If Irvine needed any tuition about how to execute a penalty flick, he got it six minutes later.

Wiseman was illegally stick tackled and pushed - and up stepped penalty ace Shepherd to fire Trojans in front ten minutes before the break.

It was the ideal half-time tonic for Trojans, who only needed to keep their shape and discipline to lift the trophy again.

Coach Wael Badawi chopped and changed his personnel - critically giving Colin French pitch time on the left flank.

Player/coach to Trojans' newly formed academy side this season, French has seen little first team action, but his swift and speedy presence was key.

Six minutes into the second period French scored a second for Trojans that effectively killed Banbury off.

Shepherd and the impressive Dicky Newnham - arguably Trojans' man of the match - worked the ball to French, who drilled a shot into the roof of the net.

A spate of green warning cards dished out by the umpires ultimately saw John Jauncey sin-binned - but he was able to celebrate Paul Hilton's third goal.

The ace marksman beat Johnson at the near post with a blistering ground shot struck from barely a yard off the left byeline.

Trojans finished with ten men - Pete Wiles being yellow carded towards the end.