JERSEY badminton star Mariana Agathangelou has won her first senior tournament gold medal.

Partnered by fellow England player Rachael Howard, the pair won the top gong at the Essex Open on Sunday with a 2-1 victory against Ruth Gardner and Sarah Fanty, conquerors of the number one seeds Heather Olver and Hayley Connor in the semi-finals.

It was a fine overall victory considering Agathangelou had rested for the previous few days having returned from Denmark last Tuesday with an ankle injury.

Agathangelou and Howard had a slow start in their first game in the Essex final as they trailed 9-3.

But the duo got their act together and gaining in confidence they countered to win 15-9.

The second game was tighter with the eventual winners losing it 15-13 before recovering to win the decider 15-8.

It was third time lucky for Agathangelou as twice previously in senior tournaments she was beaten at the semi-final stages.

Two weeks ago 17-year-old Agathangelou won doubles and mixed doubles golds at the under-19 international tournament in Denmark.