A Hitchin primary school is celebrating after winning a famous old Hertfordshire football title for the first time.

The Wix Centenary Shield has been running for more than 100 years and it is William Ransom Primary School whose name is going onto it this year.

It was a double success for the Stuart Drive school, having lifted the Hitchin Wix Cup to reach the finals, held at the Recreation Ground, home of Colney Heath Football Club.

The day proved a tense affair and William Ransom needed a four-goal win in their last group game to advance to the final.

They went one better, winning 5-0 against Letchworth's Stonehill to set up the winner-takes-all game against Garden Fields of St Albans.

And the drama continued and intensified as the sides finished level, forcing a penalty shoot-out.

Even then there was little to separate them and when a hero was needed, up stepped William Ransom's goalkeeper, Samuel Johnson, to score the winning penalty.

Unbeknownst to him, he did so with a broken wrist having saved an earlier spot-kick.

Teacher Perry Maranian said: "We are extremely proud of the boys. They have trained hard all season and shown a superb attitude to achieve this well-deserved success."

It was also a fitting end for headteacher Mary Driver, who is retiring after 42 years at the school.

She said: "I have seen hundreds of school matches but nothing as exciting as this tournament.

"It is fantastic to go out on a high."