BRAINTREE Town Youth's under-13s ended the club's 27-year wait for county youth cup glory with a 2-0 victory over Thurrock in the Essex Cordell Cup final.

Second-half goals by Charlie Batten and Joe O’Brien secured the success at Great Wakering Rovers as the Iron youngsters earned the first silverware since a Butcher Under-18s Trophy win in 1990.

Braintree under-13s manager Nicky Fitch said “I thought it was excellent.

“The game plan was superb and the boys did really well.

"It was probably the best they’ve played collectively all year, so I’m really happy.

"I was really confident at half-time; I thought we could dominate the game because we had done that in the first half and I always thought that we would come out and win.”

Braintree enjoyed the better of the opening stages, with Batten testing the Thurrock keeper and then hitting the post, but they were unable to break the deadlock.

They were indebted to keeper Jake Anderson for maintaining parity at the break, though, as he proved why he has been called up to the Eastern Junior Alliance representative team for his age group with a magnificent collection of stops.

Thurrock continued on the front foot at the start of the second half, but it was Braintree who resumed their dominance as they opened the scoring in the 42nd minute.

Daniel O’Brien squared the ball to Batten, who managed to force his shot in.

Anderson had to be alert again as Thurrock tried to respond, but Braintree wrapped up the silverware when O’Brien, who had only just been introduced from the bench, drilled a shot in from 25 yards that nestled in the bottom corner.

The Iron are now looking to add further county silverware to the club's trophy cabinet.

While the under-13s turn their attention to wrapping up the Eastern Junior Alliance Suffolk Division title, the under-14s are preparing to face Dagenham and Redbridge in the final of the Essex Andrews Under 14s Cup on April 23.

Braintree Under-13s: Jake Anderson, Sam Norton, Matt Brooks, Aaron Clements, Caleb Rad, Freddie Ambrose, Charlie Batten, Jamie McDonald, Daniel O’Brien, Jamie Williams, Reggie Gregory. Subs: Gianni Garofalo, Joe O’Brien, Charlie Bowes, David Bilegni.