Bures United boss Denis Handley praised his players after producing a ‘complete performance’ in their Suffolk FA Primary Cup Final victory.

The Andreas Carter Essex & Suffolk Border League Division Three side defeated AFC YourShirts 2-1 in Wednesday’s final at Colchester United FC.

Handley was manager of Bures when they were beaten 2-1 in the final of this competition two years ago by Barham Athletic who, like AFC YourShirts, play in the Touchline SIL.

He said: “We only had four of the same players who played in that final, but I think that it stuck in their minds that they had been here before and knew what it is like to lose and didn’t want that to happen again.”

Handley, nursing a damaged right shoulder after his players jumped on him following the presentation of the cup, continued: “We played well against a good side, who have been unbeaten in their league for a reason.

“We scored two great goals. We have got pace and we will always use that on the break.

“I thought everyone played well. The goalkeeper, defenders, they all did their jobs. It was a complete performance, where everyone clicked and it came together.”

AFC YourShirts joint manager Craig Ottaway said: “It is obviously gutting to playing on a big stage like this and go away without getting the result we wanted.

“But we gave it our all in the second half and came away with nothing having left everything on the pitch.

“It was our own mistakes which cost us the two goals, and at 2-0 down we left ourselves with a lot to do to mount a comeback. Although we gave it a go in the second-half they defended well.”

Both managers praised Suffolk FA and Colchester United for staging the final at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Ottaway added: “It was a fantastic occasion – the lads were over the moon to play at a professional stadium. If we were going to lose the final anywhere, we would have picked this place to lose.

“I just hope that in the future there are similar opportunities to play at places like Colchester United.”