An absorbing Final between the side who won last season’s under 13s Kent Cup and the club who won the under 14 trophy produced a hugely enjoyable spectacle that had the dramatic finale that it deserved!

The defending Under 13 cup holder Bromley had the better early chances, but it was Kent Football United who went two goals up courtesy of a brace from Player of the Martch, David Ikumobasin.

But before the break Odeluga Offiah pulled one back and then a stunning free kick from wide on the right from Joe Turner levelled the scores, and after no further scores, the Cup was decided in a shoot-out.  KFU keeper Tom Crump saved Bromley’s second shot, United didn’t miss, and when Crump saved a second spot kick, the Cup remained in the hands of Kent Football United.

A disappointed Bromley coach Glyn Shimmell made a surprise admission after the game when he told us, “I felt we did well to get back into the game – we totally under estimated Kent Football United; we knew that League positions would have nothing on today but…” shrugged the Bromley coach.  “But full credit to my players for coming back after giving two goals away – it could have gone either way – but fair play to them they never gave up as they saw it through.”

Kent Football United coach Darren Leach told us, “I’m over the moon for the boys,” the very emotional boss was actually close to tears as he spoke to us.  “Today I thought our name was on the Cup I really did!  We rode our luck at times as you have to winning any game let alone a Cup Final.  We were the under dogs in this Final – big time under dogs – I’m just so delighted!”

When asked about Coach Shimell’s admission that their opposition had under estimated them, the United coach told us, “A lot of teams have under estimated us this season, and we’ve beaten some good sides to get here but on our day we can be any team and we’ve proved it today.  Bromley are without doubt one of the best sides in that League if not the best side and I take my hat off to them I really do!  I said to my boys that this is the biggest Cup competition that you can play in and to go and enjoy it – and didn’t they just do that?”

But for two unlucky bounces Bromley could have been to ahead inside the opening ten minutes.  Twice Paris Jackson manged to get in behind the defence; twice he cleverly lobbed the ball over United keeper Tom Crump; twice the ball bounced but on neither occasion into the net – one bounce took the ball crashing into a post and the other aimlessly past!

After those let offs the Final turned on its head as United scored twice through Ikumobasin in two swift attacks – the first particularly impressive as he controlled an awkward ball whilst holding off a defenders challenge as he rolled the ball into the net.  To their credit, Bromley rallied almost instantly as Offiah forced the ball past Crump and into the net – Jackson followed up just for good measure.

At the start of the second half, United defender Rashid Braima was indebted to keeper Crump for a fantastic full length save when a defensive header looked like it would find the bottom corner.  Crump sadly though wasn’t as fortunate with the next ball into the box as a free kick taken from wide out by Turner flew into the net.

Chances came and went at both ends but there was no more drama in front of goal and the extra period flashed by meaning that the destination of the Cup would be decided in a shoot-out.

Both sides scored their first spot kicks before Crump – who is playing a year above his actual age – brilliantly saved Bromley’s second and with his team-mates scoring their next three for a 4-2 lead, the United keeper was the hero again, blocking Bromley’s fourth to spark great scenes of celebration!

 

Bromley – Ryan McCourt, Sam Shimmell, Liam Vincent, Harry Osbourne, Joe Turner, James Roberts, Fred Mason, Luke Cook, Paris Jackson, Odeluga Offiah, Henry Farrant

Subs – Cameron Slatter, Aiden Remfry-Smith, ill Edgar, Josh Burgess

Kent Football United – Tom Crump, Rashid Barima, Alfie Leach, Tom White, Ellis Blake, Harry Fisk, David Ikumobasin, Washington Omenyi, Baran Ramsubhag, Abraham Agboola, Theo Mackenzie

Subs – Frazier Crew, Georgi Steeds, Marcel Zalewski, Josh Gonzalez, Ben Bayoko

Referee – Ryan Andrew
Assistants – Josh Weller, Matthew Boughton, Will Sanderson

Kent Reliance U14 Boys Youth Cup Final 2017 – Bromley FC 2-2 Kent Football United (Bromley win 4-2 on penalties)

Match photos by PSP Images.