TAUNTON Vale Hockey Club Under-18s captain, Jordan Symes praised the spirit and determination of his side after they beat Stourport 3-2 at Olympic Park to be crowned national champions.

Mike Nicholson's late, late strike handed them a 3-2 win in a nail-biting final in the Boys' Under-18 Plate, and Symes said the squad was 'ecstatic'.

He said: "There are no words to describe how we are feeling, as a team we have worked so hard for this. I am ecstatic, the whole team are ecstatic.

"Vale have great team spirit and that came through which is why we won it in the end.

"It has been brilliant playing here, it is something that we will all take with us for a very long time, and it has been an amazing experience."

A fantastic solo effort from Stourport's Daniel Petrie got the game started as he drilled the ball into the circle for a team mate to get the touch on it however Joe Morris' tennis-esque save on line denied them.

With ten minutes to go until the half-time interval, Petrie picked up the ball at the half way line and made a solo run to into the circle striking it on his reverse to give Stourport the lead.

In the 32nd minute, captain Jordan Symes threw himself at the near post to tap the ball over the line to level things for Vale.

They then won a penalty stroke which Sam Whitefield put away putting the Somerset side in the lead for the first time.

The second half began with Vale pushing for a third but it was Stourport who scored next. Callum Stanley hit it on his reverse to make it 2-2.

Speed merchant Tom Hawthorne worked the left side but Stourport's defence kept him and his Taunton teammates at bay.

The last action of the game saw Vale awarded a penalty corner, and Nicholson's drag flick found the net to spark wild celebrations.

Taunton vale chairman, Mark Davenport said: "These young men have produced some thoroughly exciting and nerve wracking hockey this season.

"Having endured penalty flicks at the semi-final against Saffron Walden, and for this game to be decided upon on a short corner awarded with less than ten seconds left on the clock, I’m pleased the season is over as I’m not sure I could take much more drama on the hockey pitch.

"We’re only losing three of these lads from this age group next year, so it bodes extremely well for next season and they’re already talking about going back to Lee Valley to win the cup.

"It has been an incredible end to a fantastic season at TVHC this year which has seen our U10 Boys and Girls crowned regional champions, our U14 boys becoming County Champions, our Ladies winning the Somerset Cup and three senior men’s teams gaining promotion in the GoCrea8 Hockey League.

"It all bodes well for the future and we’ll soon be making some very exciting announcements about our coaching team for the 2016/17 season."

Team: Jordan Symes (capt),Miles Cave (GK), Joe Morris, Sam Whitfield, Fraser Owen (Man of the Match), Tom Hawthorne, Callum Hudson, Jesse Mooney, Max Beale, Michael Nicholson, Elliott Fathers, Ben O’Neill, James Lamb, Harry Whittle and Dom Drew.