DARLINGTON manager Mark Cooper said it was the proudest moment of his career after seeing Chris Senior snatch victory in the dying seconds of Saturday’s FA Trophy final.

Click here to view a gallery of pictures from the day

The striker came off the bench to give Quakers their first ever victory at Wembley in the most dramatic of circumstances – a header from close-range in the final minute of extra-time against Mansfield Town.

The goal came directly in front of the massed ranks of Darlington fans – about 10,000 had made the trip from the North-East and all around the world for the occasion – and Cooper was unable to keep his emotions in check.

In scenes reminiscent of Bob Stokoe’s pitch invasion when Sunderland won the FA Cup in 1973 – the last time a full-time North-East team won at Wembley – Quakers’ boss reacted by running on to the Wembley turf to join his players to celebrate.

It has also been compared to the moment in 1983 when Luton Town boss David Pleat raced across the Manchester City pitch to celebrate the moment his team won a relegation fight.

Cooper said: “I think David Pleat’s shoes were a bit more expensive than mine and I think he might have been quicker. One of my players has just said it was the fastest he had seen me run.

“But you’re emotions are what they are – I just went.

What a way to win, brilliant.

“The referee told me to sit down, but I make no apologies for that celebration and I would do it again.”

After claiming his second piece of silverware as a manager, Quakers boss Cooper said: “As a manager it’s my proudest moment, and to do it in that style will take some beating.

“To stand there and get the Trophy with all your family and friends watching was just brilliant.

“I’ve never won a game as dramatically as that. Scoring in the last minute of extratime with a goal right in front of our fans was just a ridiculous feeling.

“It will live with me forever and it was probably the most dramatic finish to a cup final at Wembley for a long time, if not ever. What a way to do it.”

Senior was making his first appearance since suffering a calf strain that caused him to miss the final four matches of the season.

The striker had to be substituted during the first half of the defeat at Hayes & Yeading on April 16 and he was a major doubt to play.

But after working with physio Ali Logan he recovered just in time. Cooper sent him on in the 75th minute, for John Campbell, and he immediately added energy and pace to Quakers’ attack. His goal was his seventh of the season and his first since October.

Cooper added: “He’s been touch and go after pulling his calf, but he’s got a goal in him so we put him on and came up trumps for us.

“After the Hayes game, when we came off, I had written him off because I had one or two calf strains when I was playing and they’re horrible.

I didn’t think there was any way he was going to be fit and he felt the same.

“We gave him as much time as we could to get fit and now he has come off the bench and won us the Trophy.”