The second Final of the Kent FA’s “Saturday Finals” saw the Kent Reliance Kent Junior Cup B won by Social Team United with two second half goals seeing them get the better of Gillingham Town after an enjoyable final at the Gallagher Stadium.

Curtis Winnett put United in front just before the hour mark and when a free kick flew into the end from wide out you knew it wasn’t going to be Town’s day as the Cup headed for Thanet.

United’s Player Manager and Man of the Match Danny Stokes told KSN, “Over the moon and speechless to be fair at the moment,” he admitted.

“I said at half time that I thought we were the stronger side and would only get stronger as the game went on. It was end to end but I always felt that we were capable of getting the result and our hard work paid off in the end.”

“We had a goal disallowed in the first half and I was convinced that if we kept playing the goal would come and the duly did!”

“We’re all mates and can’t fault any of them – they’re a great bunch – great squad and great club. It’s taken us five years as a club to get here – a long time in my book, but we’re here now and are going to enjoy it!”

Gillingham boss Richard Hasemore cut a frustrated figure when he spoke to KSN. The Town boss told us, “Up until the first goal I think we were on top, but we didn’t recover from it! I’ve got no excuses for today and they deserved to win it in the end.”

“I’m very proud of all my boys, but it’s disappointing that we were beaten in the Final as well last year – it’s a heck of an achievement to get here again and I’m very proud of the boys; there’s always next year!”

It was the Thanet side who made the better start with former Ramsgate striker Curtis Winnett bringing a smart save out of Town Keeper Robert Sait in the opening exchanges, before Dan Smith battled through only to be denied by the legs of Sait.

It kick started Gillingham as they then just past the quarter hour went agonisingly close to taking the lead when Branden Walsh shot against the Social bar, and following up Simeon Grant couldn’t force the ball home.

On the half hour Jim Booth sent a pile driver inches over the Gillingham bar after some terrific wing play by Winnett and a super touch from Smith laid the ball into the midfielder’s path. Booth then had the Thanet side’s next chance as his header (from a Neil Bentley free kick from half way) bounced just past the right post.

There were then three chances in the half’s final minutes. Social thought they’d taken the lead as Winnett’s shot was turned home by Sean Adderley only for the assistant’s flag to go up. Gillingham responded almost immediately as the 45 minutes ticked by as Tom Coulton’s low drive was kicked away by keeper Mitchell Gilbert before Winnett’s overhead kick was clawed away by Sait.

It was Gillingham who had the first chance of the second half as Grant played a lovely through ball for Walsh who beat the offside trap only for keeper Gilbert to do just enough as the striker prodded the ball wide.

The Thanet side responded as Smith battled through only to be denied by a fabulous Sait save as the Town keeper appeared to be wrong footed.

Social broke the deadlock on 57 minutes as Winnett was on hand to steer the Thanet side ahead after the Town defence failed to clear a free-kick.

The Medway side would have been disappointed as they had three opportunities to do so but Winnett got just enough on his shot on the turn to steer the ball wide of Sait and into the net.

They then doubled their lead just eight minutes later when Danny Atkins’ free kick from wide out on the right nestled in the bottom corner of the net – Smith looked to try and claim the goal but the striker wasn’t quite tall enough to steer the ball home.

Social should have sealed their triumph when following a great run and cross from Sean Adderley, Smith was fouled at the back post, but when the striker stepped up and took the spot kick, Sait made an excellent save away to his right.

But in the final analysis it didn’t matter and the Cup was heading down the A299 to Thanet.

 

GILLINGHAM TOWN – Robert Sait, Matt Palmer, Adam Palmer, Alex Carr, Simeon Grant, Joe Whymark, Ben Percy, Brandan Walsh, Lee Loseley, Stephen Talbot, Jordan Keates

Subs – Aaron Eldridge, Ben Turner, Tom Coulton, Marc Boyns, Lloyd Fellows

SOCIAL TEAM UNITED – Mitchell Gilbert, Nathan Baker, Andy Johnston, Neil Bentley, Gareth Watkins, Sean Adderley, Danny Stokes, Jim Booth, Curtis Winnett, Dan Smith, Lee Palmer

Subs – Ryan Wells, Danny Atkins, Jason Scott, Samuel Winch, Russell Warner

 

REFEREE – Paul Franks

ASSISTANTS – Mike Donnelly, Richard Wincott and Graham Brown

Pictures supplied by PSP Images.