First, a fantastic ball from the inspired Dean Ashton released the overlapping Scaloni, who crossed it hard and low, 1-0! Seven minutes later, and an Etherington shot was spilled out to Ashton, who gleefully fired the Hammers into a 2-0 lead.

As the Hammers looked to build on their impressive start, Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard began to weave his magic. A superb cross form the Reds talisman found striker Djibril Cissé, and Liverpool were back in the game at 2-1.

West Ham’s luck seem to be deserting them and in the 54th minute Gerrard pounced on a Crouch knock-down to emphatically level for Liverpool.

There was a time when a West Ham team might have capitulated, but not this team, brilliantly marshalled by Alan Pardew. With the crowd roaring them on, Irons full-back Konchesky put over a looping cross that evaded the Liverpool keeper and restored the Hammers' lead. 3-2

As the match moved into injury time could anything deny West Ham a glorious victory that their fans had waited 26 long years for? It seemed not. However, four minutes of added time had only just been announced when the ball fell to an unmarked Gerrard 35 yards out. What followed was possibly the best goal ever scored in an FA Cup Final and it was only this sheer individual brilliance which separated West Ham from their dream: 3-3.

Extra time still failed to split the teams, and so on to the dreaded penalty shoot-out. Liverpool just edged home as West Ham’s weary legs took their toll.

As West Ham reflected on their part in one of the great FA Cup Finals of all time, everyone agreed that Alan Pardew's team were both a credit to the club and to the memory of ex-managers Ron Greenwood and John Lyall.

It was a proud day to be a Hammers fan.

Come on you Irons!