CANBERRA kids Ross Dent and Matt Baygot secured victory but they were given a helping hand by Hurst Green players experienced enough to know better.

Green, who became the first East Lancs League side to win the LFA Amateur Shield last season, were at sixes and sevens as Canberra made the most of a series of first half blunders – with Dent and Baygot benefiting most.

While there was little to separate the sides in the first half, when it came to chances created, it was Canberra who raced to a 3-0 lead on the back of an error strewn display from their hosts.

However, Hurst Green were not entirely the architects of their own downfall as Baygot, 19, and 17-year-old Dent were the stand-out players in the first half.

They combined for the opening goal – although they were helped by some slack marking – with winger Dent crossing for Baygot to finish clinically.

Dent then showed his desire as well as his skill to get to the byline to cross for Baygot who headed on to the roof of the net.

But Hurst Green had their chances. Stuart Malley had an early header cleared off the line, James Coonan drilled across goal and Chris Leighton - Green’s creative force - teed up Paul Chippendale who blasted over the bar.

Dent then whipped in another dangerous cross that Carl Sargeson did well to turn away with Dan Blackburn lurking.

Green should have been level soon after when Leighton played a peach of a ball to Ben Walker, on for the injured Coonan, but he shot early and wide of the mark.

With the match finely poised, Green went to sleep again at the back when Liam Lishman’s hopeful ball found Dent who showed great maturity to take the ball on, skip around keeper Mark Young, steady himself before firing in to the unguarded goal.

And it went from bad to worse for Green just before the break when Young let Dominic Mulkerry’s snap shot squirm through his grasp and over the line.

Green came out all guns blazing after the break – they had to – and Leighton was first to make his mark, firing just over the bar.

Shots on target were proving to be hard to come by for the host side and Malley dragged another one wide when well placed.

Walker then whipped in a cross that Chippendale and then sub Stuart Davis both failed to convert.

But Green’s pressure finally told when Leighton’s shot smacked against the crossbar and down on to the line before Chippendale bundle the ball – and Canberra keeper Matt Mortimer – over the line.

Green pushed for a second but left them exposed at the back and Graham Perkins found Dent who in turn released Baygot who beat the offside trap and cooly round the keeper to score.

But credit to Green who refused to throw in the towel and two quick goals – one for sub Danny Walker and a second for Chippendale – set up a grandstand finish.

Walker wasted a great chance to level matters but got his timing wrong as he rose to meet Davis’ excellent cross – it proved to be Hurst Green’s last chance to salvage a point.