Victory at St Andrews completed a superb 'double' for City in what was only their second season in the competition. Manager Neil Hards was delighted with his side's achievements and described The Vase success as 'fairytale stuff'

"I have had two years of unlimited success with these players and this just tops it off. It’s the pinnacle of two years’ hard work," he said.

"For the first half, we dominated and 1-0 didn’t reflect the domination we had. We had three or four chances, but didn’t score. We sat back a little bit and they started to take control of the middle of the park, which brought them back into the game.

"AFC Sudbury had nothing to lose and they had to come out. They are a good side and fair play to them. It was a terrific game of football."

Hards puts Winchester’s rapid rise to success down to teamwork and the together of his players.

He said: "I have got a group of lads that would run to the ends of the earth for me. They never know when they are beaten. Everyone gets on with each other and everyone is in it together.

Winchester's full-back Shaun Dyke caught the eye with a wonderful performance and his Carlsberg Man of the Match award summed up how tricky AFC Sudbury found him to deal with. The 27 year-old also weighed in with the penalty that clinched victory, but afterwards admitted that it was the first penalty he had taken all season.

He said: "Andy Forbes had gone off injured so if the main boy isn’t there, I have got to do it. About five minutes before, I had asked to come off but luckily I stayed on.

"It took so long to take it because they made a substitution and I just wanted to get on with it. I just picked the place and, luckily for me, the goalkeeper didn’t save it. It was my first penalty of the season."

He added: "I think we got the penalty at just the right time because they were starting to get into the game. Even down to ten men they were still strong. They had a few chances at the end, but we managed to hold on.

"This is the best I will ever get."

Meanwhile, in the other dressing room, Sudbury manager Gary Harvey was sympathetic towards his side, who suffered a similar defeat twelve months ago.

‘I just feel for the boys. They were all here last year. Our preparation had been brilliant – we could not have done anything more. ‘I think it was a tale of two halves. I think the penalty was the defining moment. It was a penalty – I’ve got no complaints about that – but I thought the sending off was a bit harsh.’

He added: "We just came out very slowly in the first half and we were lucky to get away with the one goal. "In the second half I thought we were fine and was quite happy with our performance. The second goal came just at the wrong time and reducing us to ten men made it a huge uphill battle.

However, despite another FA Vase setback, Harvey and Sudbury are determined to get their hands on the elusive trophy. He warned: "We are not going to give up until we win it."