Wednesday players celebrate on the show pitch at Hackney Marshes

THE business end of the season in the Camden Sunday League is in full swing – and, as is so often the case, that can only mean one thing: silverware for players from Hackney Wednesday.

The club lifted their third Frank Sheridan Senior Invitation Cup earlier this month after coming out on top following a nail-biting penalty shootout against New River Plate on the show pitch at Hackney Marshes.

The reigning London Sunday Junior Cup champions dominated the opening period, but a combination of excellent goalkeeping by New River’s Sam Riddick, the woodwork, and the linesman’s flag kept the scoreline goalless.

Wednesday’s persistence finally paid off just before the hour mark when summer signing Sam Spong’s spectacular switch of play sent Fergus McIntosh one-on-one, and the talismanic striker made no mistake with a bobbled finish.

Captain Thomas Zaqueu

Cup finals, however, are never straightforward. And New River hit straight back when Kish Patel’s dangerous free-kick struck the far post and was turned in on the rebound by their captain Pablo Smith.

The equaliser changed the momentum of the game, and suddenly New River looked the more likely victors. And they would have won it inside the initial 90 had it not been for some fine goalkeeping from Wednesday shot-stopper Max Royle, who helped ensure a thrilling cup contest finished 1-1 and moved into extra-time.

But Royle could do very little about Felix Rushton’s ruthless strike at the end of the first period of extra-time – the player swivelling on a dime and rifling home a fierce shot to give New River a 2-1 lead.

Hackney Wednesday beat New River Plate after a nail-biting penalty shootout

Wednesday, though, haven’t filled their trophy cabinet by just admitting defeat. In the dying minutes, up came veteran Mark Smith to meet Spong’s corner from a yard to level the scores at 2-2 and send the game to penalties.

In keeping with what went before, the quality of the shootout was extremely high, with both teams scoring their first four attempts.

Royle then became the hero of the hour – or in this case, two hours – as he saved New River’s fifth penalty, setting the stage for Wednesday’s skipper Thomas Zaqueu to wallop home the winner and clinch the cup.

“Penalties are always nerve-wracking but my trust in the team gave me a quiet confidence,” said Zaqueu after the final whistle. “Scoring the winning penalty is what you grow up imagining. The relief of scoring followed by the pride of helping the team win our 10th trophy is what makes spending every Sunday with these boys special.”