Ebbsfleet 1 Torquay 0

Chris McPhee was Ebbsfleet United's Wembley hero with the winner that helped them lift the FA Trophy for the first time in the club's history.

McPhee sank his old club with a close-range finish, but all the credit has to go to young striker John Akinde.

The 19-year old won the ball on the dead-ball line, robbing veteran Torquay defender Chris Todd in the process, before providing the perfect pass for McPhee to convert.

*** kmfm's Adam Williams was at Wembley - hear the highlights of his commentary on a nerve-shredding afternoon by clicking on the audio link at the top of this page. ***

Four minutes earlier McPhee had seen his spot-kick kept out by Martin Rice, after the Devon side’s goalkeeper had been penalised for bringing down Luke Moore.

McPhee, usually so reliable from 12 yards, converted two in the semi-final first leg win against Aldershot, but could only watch as Rice dived to save.

Liam Daish’s side had been fortunate to survive an early Torquay barrage as Lance Cronin’s goal led a charmed life. The keeper saved well from Kevin Nicholson’s free-kick, then Tim Sills put a free header wide.

Roscoe D’Sane then put another chance wide, and it was fully 15 minutes before Ebbsfleet created their first chance, Stacy Long firing over the bar.

~ More action pictures from Wembley >>>

Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long and Sacha Opinel all went close, as Fleet seemed to start enjoying the unfamiliar surroundings which drew a bigger then expected crowd of around 40,000, proving a colourful setting, on a humid thundery afternoon at the famous stadium.

Jamie Smith, the surprise inclusion in Daish’s final eleven, almost added Fleet’s second eight minutes after the break, just missing out on Long’s free-kick at the far post. Then the latter fired straight at Rice after the keeper’s poor clearance was charged down.

Akinde stabbed another effort against the woodwork as Rice parried free-kick, before Cronin saved Tim Sills’ close-range header.

Long, who must have impressed any watching scouts, then turned goal-saver, clearing another effort off the line.

McCarthy stole in unmarked to head over the bar, before Torquay sub Elliott Benyon headed wide, but the Fleet fans were in good voice, as the Mexican waves started.

They sensed it was their day, and minutes later Martin Atkinson’s whistle started the celebrations that are set to last all weekend around Gravesend.

McCarthy was joined by injured team-mate Danny Slatter to receive the most coveted Trophy in non-league football, leaving Torquay, beaten earlier this week by rivals Exeter in the Blue Square Premier play-offs, to reflect on another disappointment.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Hawkins, Opinel, Smith, McCarthy, Long (MacDonald 84), McPhee, Barrett, Bostwick, Akinde, Moore.

Subs not used: Mott, Ricketts, Purcell, Eribenne.

Attendance: 40,186.

See this week's Gravesend Messenger and Dartford Messenger for 12-pages of coverage of the Fleet's historic win.