Wickbeech manager Carlton Bird described goalkeeper Grant Lee’s 36th-minute penalty save as a “huge moment” in his team’s 6-2 Essex Sunday Junior Cup Final success over Wickford Town at Thames Road.

Forward Craig George grabbed a hat-trick and Mark Argent contributed a first-half brace, but it was custodian Lee who drew the biggest praise for his stop from Luke Smith. Bird added: “It was a huge moment in the game; if that penalty had gone in, the game could have changed. The lad hit it really well, so it was a really good save.”

He has also set his sights on moving up into the Sunday Premier Cup competition for next season having added the Junior Cup to their 2008 Junior Trophy success: “I think we’ve got a better team now than we did back then. We’ve stepped up a level as we’ve moved up a competition, and this team would now like to challenge themselves again and see what they could achieve in the Premier Cup.”

“If we can keep them all together and have a bit of luck on the way then who knows, but there would be some good opponents to face as well,” added Bird. “From the quarter-finals onwards this year, everyone has been chomping at the bit to play. To be honest, it’s a relief to win; I was knotted up before the game, so now it’s nice to be able to relax!”

Wickbeech made the perfect start, taking the lead within 2 minutes. George had already burst through once straight from the kick-off, only to be thwarted by Ben Willmore diving at his feet, but he made no mistake with a beautiful, curling free-kick into the bottom left-hand corner from 25 yards. When Sena Suavi’s 7th-minute effort was deflected wide by a combination of defensive duo Reiss Dobson and Rob Driver, it merely provided George with the opportunity to set up the second, swinging a corner kick into the near post, where Argent’s powerful header was planted into the net.

On the quarter-of-an-hour mark, George again assisted one of his team-mates as he played Suavi clear down the inside-left channel for the front man to slide underneath Willmore and make it 3-0. However, this prompted Wickford to fight back, and they registered their first goal just three minutes later. A short corner routine between Dobson and Ben Freeman saw Dobson cross for Smith, who craned his head back to connect with the centre and reduce the arrears.

Mike Hart then nodded Nick Strachan’s cross off-target, although Wickbeech created opportunities of their own as George’s fierce shot was blocked by a brave Freeman and ‘keeper Willmore got the faintest of touches to force the ball out when Suavi attempted to dribble round him. Then came the decisive moment as Matt Preston tripped Mike Pearce and Smith stepped up to attempt to beat Lee from twelve yards. The shot was struck well to the ‘keeper’s left, but Lee guessed correctly and leapt to push the ball away.

With six minutes remaining in the first half, the importance of his contribution was confirmed as Argent scored his second of the morning, exchanging a one-two with George before bundling the ball past Willmore and the covering Driver. There was still time for Wickbeech to add a fifth with a little over one minute remaining before half-time, Neil George this time chipping the ball forward for Suavi to lob Willmore with Craig George tapping the ball into an unguarded net.

The second period was no less entertaining, despite the goal not being threatened so often. Town’s James Dawson was denied by the legs of Lee as he tried to stab in Dobson’s corner and another flag-kick saw both Dawson and Strachan denied by goal-line blocks. Craig George was not to be stopped from collecting a hat-trick, though, and his driven, 20-yard shot after a mazy run made it 6-1 with nine minutes to go.

Wickford continued to press, and were rewarded when Smith flicked in substitute Adam Harris’ cross, whilst Marc Collyer later smashed against the left-hand upright in stoppage time. “It is a big thing for the town of Wickford to have had two teams in this final,” Bird continued. “It’s been a great day out and a massive bonus to win it. We will savour this moment and then see what the rest of the season has in store as we are on for a League, League Cup and County Cup treble.”

Wickbeech: Grant Lee, Dan Hicks (Paul Griffiths, 55), Danny Brown, Dave Huzzey, Matt Preston, Craig George (Dan Beckham, 84), Sena Suavi, Mark Argent (Tim Bird, 67), Scott Wilkinson, Jon Guppy, Neil George. Unused Substitutes: Jack Sharp, Dan Paterson.

Wickford Town: Ben Willmore, Ben Freeman (Marc Collyer, 46), Ross Wayland, Rob Driver, Reiss Dobson, Mike Pearce (Adam Harris, 56), Nick Strachan, James Dawson, Luke Smith, Mike Hart, Jamie Newman. Unused Substitutes: Dan Barrick, Tom Dunn, Matt Cullen.

Bookings: Wickbeech: Preston (36, foul). Wickford: Strachan (58, dissent), Hart (72, dissent).

Referee: Perry Reed (Chelmsford).

Assistant Referees: Gary Thatcher (Woodford Green) and David Gainsford (Basildon).

Fourth Official: Greg Potter (Colchester).

Attendance: 124.