The joy on the young footballers’ faces in the main photo alongside this story shows just what it means to win a County Cup.

Stratton Youth were crowned the GFA’s Under-12 Boys’ Cup champions after overcoming Longwell Green Sports Youth in a thriller at Almondsbury.

The match ended 1-1 at full-time but that only tells half the story because that was when the drama really began with Stratton eventually pulling through 9-8 in a penalty shootout.

“In terms of a penalty shootout, I think they were the best penalties I have ever seen,” said joint coach Owen Russell. “We scored all nine and then one of their players put his penalty wide."

Stratton’s spot-kick heroes were captain Mylo Russell, goalkeeper Jack Podbery, Fred Sutton, Oscar Newport, Ethan Morse, Jayden Mercer, Freddie Pearse, Freddie Weeding and Jay Dodsworth.

Russell continued: “I watched all our penalties but at the end I couldn’t watch theirs.

“I think the shootout must have lasted 15 minutes.”

Cirencester-based Stratton, who need a point at home against Purton Youth Bears on Sunday to add the North Wiltshire Youth League Under-12 Division 1 title to their County Cup success, had gone ahead against Longwell Green early in the first half.

It was scored by right-winger Weeding and Russell said: “A free-kick taken by Ethan Morse was parried by the goalkeeper and Freddie is very quick. He was the first to react and tuck it home.”

Longwell Green, who play in Division 1 of the Avon Youth League, levelled 10 minutes from time but that goal served only to set up a grandstand finale.

“It was my best moment in football, without a doubt,” said Russell, who is joint coach with Mark Podbery and Terry Newport.

“The majority of the team have been together since under-7s. I know how hard these boys work, they started pre-season training in June.

“For them to get the success they have is fantastic, they’ve won it with their best mates.”

The team, who play 3-2-3, have one more season of 9-a-side football before moving up to 11-a-side in 2027/28.