Croydon Athletic manager Tim O'Shea was full of praise for his players last night despite their heartbreaking penalty defeat in the final of the London Senior Cup.

Despite playing a Hendon side a division above them the Rams matched their opponents throughout and could have won it in added on time at the end of 90 minutes but for a superb save from William Viner as he tipped Danny Waldren's free kick around the post.

Viner proved to be the hero as he saved penalties from Sam Clayton, Shabazz Baidoo and Robbie Ryan while Hendon scored all three of theirs.

O'Shea though was happy with the character of his players, particularly after they went 2-1 down in extra time and equalised through Richard Blackwell.

"The game epitomised the never say die attitude of my players," he said.

"To go 2-1 down in extra time many sides heads go and think that's it but them bunch of players don't accept a loss like that and full credit to them.

"Hand on heart we've got plenty of penalty takers and when they were asked who wants to take a penalty, straight away seven or eight players wanted to.

"That's something I am proud of as well as you found out the characters in the side.

"You have to respect the fact Hendon are a league above and over the 90 minutes and extra time I thought we possibly shaded it."

The loss takes little away from O'Shea's record at the KT Stadium, with just two defeats in 27 matches before last night.

Having already made wholesale changes to the playing staff since his arrival in December O'Shea admitted there would be a couple more over the summer but believes his current squad is not far away from being promotion contenders next year.

"There possibly will be one or two changes just to freshen it up," he said.

"We are not a million miles away when you go on that kind of run in the league and put in performances like that in the cup.

"We are looking forward to a positive pre-season and hopefully next season being up there and challenging."