Sholing goalkeeper Matt Brown put in a man of the match performance as he kept a clean sheet at Wembley to help his side lift The FA Vase.
His assured showing built a platform for the rest of the team before Marvin McLean put West Auckland Town to the sword with a goal 19 minutes from time.
He said: "I did alright today – it was great to win the man of the match award.
Sholing 1-0 West Auckland Town
The FA Carlsberg Vase
The Final
Saturday 10 May
Wembley Stadium
"It couldn't have gone any better for me today. It could have been a nightmare start when one of their guys came racing through one-on-one, but I got myself into a good starting position, blocked the shot, and that gave me the confidence to kick on for the rest of the match.
"It was amazing to get my hands on the trophy. We said at the start of the season that we wanted to get our hands on The FA Vase but it reality, it looked a long way away.
"So to come here, play at Wembley and win the trophy, it can't get any better for a non-League footballer."
Brown also paid tribute to outgoing manager Diaper.
He added: "We knew it was his last game and he is Mr Sholing.
"He brought me to the club, and it was the perfect send-off for him. Not everybody sees all the hard work he puts in behind the scenes and he does so much that we have to be thankful for.
"He does everything – he even cooked us a barbecue after the last league match of the season."
Meanwhile, West Auckland boss Peter Dixon said: Dixon said: "We have a lot of things to reflect on because we lost a game we had the better clear-cut chances in.
"Football is a cruel game because there can be such fine margins.
"We lost even though we gave a good account of ourselves, unlike when we were beaten here two years ago.
"I honestly don't think the players could have given any more – it just wasn't meant to be our day today.
"Their goalkeeper pulled off some outstanding saves and we hit the crossbar at the end.
"It felt like it was fate because we were clearly the better side but did not win.
"We will be even more determined to lift a trophy next season."
