West Ham academy director Terry Westley couldn't hide his delight after watching his team lift the U21 Premier League Cup trophy with a penalty shootout victory over Hull at the KC Stadium.

There was little to choose between the two sides in a highly competitive match which followed a remarkably similar pattern to the first-leg.

A 90th minute Djair Parfitt-Williams winner had given the Irons a slender lead going into this one and the roles were reversed when Tigers forward Will Annan dragged the game into extra time with a last-gasp strike of his own.

Reece Oxford of West Ham United lifts the trophy after winning the U21 Premier League Cup final

The Hammers players celebrate after Martin Samuelsen's penalty brought an end to the shootout

Goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel (right) hugs Academy Manager Terry Westley (left) after winning the match

U21: @samuelseen DOES IT! WEST HAM ARE CHAMPIONS!!! pic.twitter.com/N4w9biRBUy — West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) 4 May 2016

After a stalemate period, the Hammers emerged champions netting all five of their penalties with goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel making the all-important save.

Norwegian winger Martin Samuelsen slotted the decisive penalty as they came out 5-3 winners on spot-kicks.

And Westley, immersing himself in the jubilant post-match scenes, was quick to heap praise on his youngsters.

Speaking to WHUTV, the former Derby County manager admitted 'It's great to win. At this level we usually talk about development, but tonight we really wanted to win. We took it right to the very end and overall I think we deserved it.'

Having bounced back from a late blow, Westley highlighted his team's spirit as the key to victory: 'To be pegged back right at the end and still come out on top is massive. We were dead on our feet out there toward the end.'

The game resembled the first leg at Upton Park with both sides missing a number of chances

Will Annan of Hull City celebrates scoring his 90th minute equaliser to take the game to extra time

'We showed great character and determination to come back and it'll stand them in good stead for the future.'

The triumph is the latest in what has already been a highly successful campaign for the club as a whole with the first team still in the running for European football next season.

The 56-year-old continued to glow as he talked up the role of the fans in the team's accomplishments.

'This club is unbelievable. Everywhere you go, there are fans. The awards dinner last night, there was more than a 1,000. Now tonight, three hours away, midweek our fans were magnificent,' he beamed.

'We had 10,000 at the first leg, 35,000 in the Europa League qualifier, it really is staggering.'

19-year-old Norwegian winger Martin Samuelsen slots the winning penalty to decide the shootout

The triumph is the latest in what has already been a highly successful campaign for the club as a whole



