The final County Final held at the Shepherd Neame Stadium this season produced the most dramatic finale of them all as Rammell Lake held his nerve in the 117th minute to drive a penalty that won Dartford this particular trophy for the third time in six seasons.

After storming into a two goal lead, the Darts were pegged back by a tremendous second half display from the Wings before just three minutes before the end of Extra Time a clumsy tackle gave Dartford the chance to win the Cup which they duly did.

Welling made the better start with Jack Mahon ghosting in behind the Dartford defence before firing over and Matt Catmull pulled the best out of Dartford keeper Oli Gibson with a free kick, whilst at the other end Charlie Phillips stung the hands of Wings keeper Bailey Whittington from 25 yards.

The Darts took the lead on 23 minutes when Brima Daramy played in Joe Fisher who was upended by keeper Whittington, and up stepped Lake to hold his nerve and give Dartford the lead.

Welling rallied and Stefan Kempton’s header from a corner was well beaten away by Gibson, before the Darts went two up just before half time – and it was all Daramy.

The Dartford number nine picked the ball up in the centre circle and just ran at the blue Welling wall before unleashing an unstoppable drive that flew into the net.

It was nearly three just after the break when Daramy’s thunderous header (from Kaka Dembele’s cross) thudded into the advertising boards behind the goal.

Dartford were so much in charge that no one saw Welling getting back into the game, until they did however on 53 minutes. Stevie Jemmon sprinted free and as his shot beat keeper Gibson, Brendan Ansah-Owusu somehow cleared the ball off the line. Unfortunately for Ansah-Owusu, Reiss Powell was following up and blasted the ball home!

It was a Final where goals always seemed just round the corner – Daramy should have hit the target from another Dembele centre, and Welling then incredibly equalised on 67 minutes – Jerrom did brilliantly to hold off defenders before beating Gibson as the ball this time did roll into the Dartford net.

It really was a game of two halves as after bossing the first half, it was the Darts who were now on the back foot.

Mahon fired in a fierce shot that took a horrible bounce in front of Gibson only for the Darts keeper to be first to react and clear the ball away, and then with just four minutes left on the clock Tarkan Mersin fired wide from just eight yards.

The Final’s controversy came when Ebou Adams was deemed to have kicked the ball away and was shown a second yellow card and was sent off. It seemed harsh in normal conditions but in accordance to the law he had kicked the ball away as Mr Stokes whistle was being blown.

Having a man’s disadvantage Welling couldn’t take advantage – it was summed up with a great free kick from wide right that was missed by five blue shirts as it bounced through the Dartford box and away to safety.

From Dartford’s next corner Ross Phillips powered a header over the bar, before the Cup was won three minutes from time.

And with the clock on 117 minutes Dembele wriggled through into the box only for poor Mackenzie Day to commit a needless challenge which took both men to ground and resulted in poor Day being taken of with a damaged hand.

Meantime, up stepped Lake again and under immense pressure drilled the ball into the net for his second with some aplomb!

Welling still had a chance to win the game in stoppage time but no one could get reach Catmull’s driven centre that saw Dartford keeper Gibson and two blue shirts on top of each other in the back of the net.

It was a heartbreaking way for Welling to lose the Final – a point that boss Simon Powell agreed to.

“It is without doubt THE most heartbreaking way to lose a final,” he said, “they went forward after we lost the ball and the boy’s dived in – he’s heart broken in there but we’ve no complaints about the penalty – I’m proud of the boys today!”

“Both of their penalties were top draw and we can’t argue with either, but what pressure there was on the boy who took them!”

“It had been so close for the boys after a great season – I’m proud of my boys I really – we’ve another Final in three weeks time and we’ll go again! Today – just wasn’t our day…”

The Darts boss, Nick Davis, had some sympathy with his opposite number. After the game, he said, “Great to be two up at the break but at half time we asked them to retain our shape a bit better but fair play to Welling – they came back at us and we couldn’t clear our lines.”

“I thought the sending off was a bit unfair, but he’ll learn from that, but I thought the boys dug in well and with the reshuffle we managed to keep it going.”

“I actually thought that when we went down to ten it would go to penalties – ironically I didn’t think it would be just the one.”

“It’s tough on Welling and I do feel for them, but they’re a decent side and I’m sure they’ll be back!”

DARTFORD (from) Oli Gibson, Oli Beard, Alex Jones, Charlie Phillips, Brendan Ansah-Owusu, Ross Phillips, Ebou Adams, Brima Daramy, Joe Fisher, Ramell Lake, Kaka Dembele

Subs – Lucas Boye, Fikayo Ajayi, Alan Mazi. Osita Isichei, Alusine Bangura

WELLING UNITED (from) Bailey Whittington, Connor Stocks, Louie Wright, Jordan Lovell, Tarkan Merson, Reiss Powell, Stefan Kempton, Joey Taylor, Stevie Jerrom, Jack Mahon, Matt Catmull

Subs – Zach Liew, Tommy Leggett, Mackenzie Day, Jack Dimmock, Elliott Moon