Bedmond Echoes manager Paul Joyce expressed his pride after his side held their nerve to beat Church End 4-2 on penalties to lift the Herts Sunday Junior Cup

The final had ended 2-2 at the end of extra-time but Echoes converted all four of their spot-kicks to triumph.

“I’m so proud of the team today, because Church End were fantastic opposition and the character we showed to win the penalties was just brilliant,” said Joyce. “This team has a great mix of youth and senior players, and I’m just incredibly proud of the club.”

Echoes made up for a missed chance from six yards early on in the game when Jack Watts scored a diving header to give his side the lead.

The Bedmond side went close to scoring again when Watts’ header was saved by Church End goalkeeper Will Crowe in the 20th minute.

But Watts did double his tally with a finish late in the first half when he collected the ball and drove it into the net.

Church End came close to pulling a goal back through Joe O’Brien shortly after the restart when the midfielder’s attempt was cleared off the line. But they were rewarded for their desire to get back into the game in the 77th minute when O’Brien’s cross was met by Phil Jackman, who powered home a header.

It looked like Echoes would hold out but in the third minute of injury time Carl Edwards rose highest in the penalty area to get on the end of a Sam Dempsey set piece.

Neither side was able to score the winner in the additional period, although Jackman had a good opportunity when he showed fine skill to open up, only to shoot straight at Bedmond keeper Max Pynaert.