JUBILANT AFC Hayes manager Joe Mitchell says his team's Middlesex Senior Cup glory proves money doesn't necessarily guarantee you success.

The Brook overcame Hendon 2-0 at Northwood's Chestnut Avenue on Easter Monday with Victor Osubu and Dean Papali netting.

And Mitchell, who operates on one of the smallest budgets in Division One South & West of the Southern League, says good old fashioned underdog spirit is all anyone needs to bag some silverware.

“I'm more than happy with the result,” said the Scot. “We could have scored more but when Hendon put us under a bit of pressure in the second half we defended magnificently.

“The boys have been playing extremely well since Christmas and fully deserve some success.
“We told the players about the wage structure after Christmas but they've just got better and better. You can tell they are together and that not one person is here for the money.”

Mitchell will open talks with the club chairman at the end of the season about the possibility of snaring a good enough budget to retain the majority of his cup winning side.

“This cup win is by far the biggest one for a club of our size,” he added. “We went into it as underdogs but acquitted ourselves very well.

“At the end of the season I will sit down with the chairman and hopefully work out something for next season that, realistically, can reward these boys. It would be nothing fantastic money-wise, but hopefully I can get a budget that will entice them to stay.”

Osubu fired them into a shock seventh-minute lead against their Ryman Premier opponents, hammering the ball high into the net.

Papali missed a gilt-edged chance to double their lead when he fired straight into the grateful arms of the Hendon keeper.

But they had keeper James Harry to thank for keeping their lead intact for a string of fine saves.
Osubu and Papali missed chances to wrap up victory when they somehow managed to miss when it looked easier to score.

But Papali's penalty a minute from time completed a famous win after Osubu was brought down by the keeper.
Papali's penalty couldn't stop them going down 3-1 at Truro City two days earlier.

But boss Mitchell also hopes their cup glory can spur them on to a strong finish in the league.
“We're looking forward to every game now,” he added.

“We're on a high and are looking to finish as high in the league as possible. If we can pick up points from the teams around us seventh place would be a fantastic achievement, especially when you consider the poor start to the season we had.”