Hampstead Wanderers celebrate after retaining the Camden Sunday League’s Bill Price Cup

IT took “an extremely tough 120-minute battle”, but Hampstead Wanderers have retained the Camden Sunday League’s Bill Price Cup.

Wanderers had to show their mettle after finding themselves a goal down against Hackney Wednesday inside the opening five minutes.

But it didn’t faze them as Hampstead quickly hit back to level the scores through striker Kai McCarthy, who raced onto Noah Salama’s well-weighted ball over the top and coolly finished. The final looked like it was going to be a free-scoring goal-fest, but as the game wore on and the tensions rose, the defensive units of both teams started to come out on top.

With the contest remaining tied throughout the rest of normal time and the majority of the additional 30 minutes that followed, the supporters who had gathered at Hackney Marshes braced themselves for a nail-biting penalty shootout.

But with just minutes left on the clock, Wanderers found their winner. Set-piece specialist Patrick Mallucci whipped in a pinpoint corner, and towering defender Labeat Dushi capped a man-of-the-match display by rising above the crowd to head home a cup clincher.

Another of Hampstead’s star players, maverick winger Joey Jacobs, said the 2-1 victory was a great way for the club to continue their success story after marking their debut campaign in the Camden Sunday League 12 months ago by winning the treble: lifting the Division Two title, the Challenge Cup and the Bill Price Cup.

He said: “I’m just so glad that we’ve added to our trophy cabinet.

“We won three last year and to get another one this season is huge.

“It’s a testament to all the hard work the boys have put in. Long may our success continue! Bring on next season.”