Grays Athletic 2-0 Woking

The FA Trophy
The Final
3pm, Sunday 14 May 2006
West Ham United FC
Winning club receives £50,000

Grays Athletic are becoming non-League football's Cup specialists after claiming their second FA Trophy in a row on Sunday.

The Conference high-flyers had to battle their way past a host of fellow top sides on their way to the Final against Woking, at Upton Park, where they ran out 2-0 winners.

Manager Mark Stimson feels that his group of players have shown great character over the last two years to be able to get through two Trophy runs unbeaten.

He said: "It's a fantastic feeling. We've played 16 cup games over the last two years now, or maybe even more. So to go all of them unbeaten in this competition is amazing.

"The FA Trophy is the non-League equivalent to the FA Cup. There are not many teams who have won it back-to-back previously, so for us to do it is fantastic.

"All the credit must go to the players because they've managed to get themselves up for every game when all you need is one off-day to go out of the competition.

"They've been right on the boil in every game and must have believed in what I've been telling them.

"It was a very tough road to The Final, but actually getting there and the manner in which we won it was first class."

It caps off a great year for the Essex club, since it has been their first season in the Conference after winning promotion.

They even put themselves in contention for promotion to the Football League and although they missed out after a play-off defeat to Halifax last week, Stimson was pleased that his wounded players picked themselves back up for Sunday's Trophy final.

He added: "This year's been absolutely first-class. We've over-achieved and it's been thoroughly enjoyable.

"The players were distraught because their dream of getting into the League was taken away from them, and it's a hard one to swallow.

"Sunday was a great opportunity for us to go out and play with a smile on our face and pass the ball around. They certainly did that yesterday and thoroughly deserved the win."

Goals: Oli 41, Poole 45