The third Sunday of Kent Youth Cup Finals saw two contrasting Finals played in glorious sunshine at the Shepherd Neame Stadium in Faversham .
One was a pulsating end to end contest that eventually saw Maidstone United beat Bearsted to the Under 15s Cup 7-6 on penalties whilst Ebbsfleet United beat Chatham Town 2-1 to win the 16s Cup in a Final that had a dramatic and controversial finish.
The morning game between Maidstone and Bearsted was just about everything that you could have wanted from a Final with the pendulum of power swinging one way and then another – more twists and turns than the classic Agatha Christie novel.
Both sides had chances early on with Marvin Armstrong being denied by the feet of Bearsted keeper Alex Dewey, whilst Maidstone keeper Mark Gill did well to deny first Connor Wilkins and then Edward Bensley, before Bearsted took the lead just past the half way point of the half.
Connor Cox was played through and despite the attentions of Izak Johnson managed to get control of the ball and as Gill came out, Cox coolly rolled the ball into the empty net. Maidstone were clearly knocked onto their heels as Bearsted came forward looking for a second – Johnson almost looped a header into his own new before Gill pulled off a smart save to deny Billy O’Connell.
The half time whistle possibly came at the wrong time for Bearsted as within six minutes Maidstone were level. Gill’s huge kick found Jack Richards who held off a defender’s challenge before shooting past Dewey and into the net – it was tough on the keeper as it looked as though he’d got a strong hand to the ball but it wasn’t enough!
Then with just 12 minutes of the scheduled eighty left, Maidstone were awarded a guilt edged chance to win the Cup when Dylan Jones was brought down and referee Childs had no option but to point to the spot.
Up stepped Richards, but he was brilliantly denied not once but twice by two incredible stops from Dewey – the second one point blank. If the crowd had been impressed by that passage of play, they were amazed at what followed and it was all down to Bearsted keeper Alexander Dewey!
The corner from the penalty wasn’t cleared properly and as the ball fell to the falling Jones on the edge of the box, but as he fell, the Stones forward hooked his foot around the ball to send a looping effort heading for the top corner.
Incredibly Dewey managed to shift his weight and move his feet kick enough to back pedal and get just enough on the ball to tip it over the bar!
And all poor Alex got for his “troubles” was sore ribs after finishing rapped around the post. Even the watching Faversham Town boss Ray Turner was in awe of the save – shaking his head, Turner said, “How did he manage to move his feet so quickly? Just incredible!”
As the temperature increased, the game now became more and more cagey and moved through Extra Time with no real incident of note although, Bearsted were reduced to ten men late on after a spell of hand bags… and so the cup was to be decided on penalties and whilst Dewey had stolen the limelight during play, step forward now Maidstone stopper Gill, whose save from the fourteenth spot kick won the game for the Stones… but comment must be made of the first thirteen kicks which really were so precise.
For the record (Maidstone first)
1-0 Tom Lindsey
1-1 Billy O’Connell SCORED
2-1 Dylan Jones SCORED
2-2 Luke Snazel SCORED
3-2 Harry Miller SCORED
3-3 Connor Goodwin SCORED
4-3 Marvin Armstrong SCORED
4-4 Connor Wilkins SCORED
5-4 Mark Gill SCORED
5-5 Edward Bensley SCORED
6-5 Connor Morgan SCORED
6-6 Joe Ford SCORED
7-6 Jack Wooldridge SCORED
7-6 Henry Collins – SAVED
Bearsted boss John Embery was understandably disappointed – “I’m gutted to lose like that but I suppose that’s football,” he said.
“We worked hard and we worked so hard all over the pitch – and that’s a big pitch out there, and we had to dig deep at times in what was a really good game!”
“It’s been a hard run to get here and in the end to get beaten on penalties is gutting but we haven’t really been beaten which is good as we’ve got the League Cup Final on Thursday against Dartford – things don’t get any easier do they?”
Meantime Stones boss Mark Taylor was a delighted manager. “Thought the boys did really well today – we struggled first half when they were on top but we came back well in the second half and extra time.”
“It’s a shame that it had to go to penalties as I thought Bearsted played really well. They’ve got to be proud of the way they played but it’s been such a good competition all the way through – it’s the second year that we’ve won it now.”
“I’m really proud for the boys as we’ve won the League but this really tops it off now!”
“We had to tell the boys a few home truths at half time – and we have had to do that this season as we’ve done so well in the League.”
“It was a new experience for us to go behind – but Bearsted did really play well. I must confess that there was a hint of a doubt after we missed the penalty and then the other save – I did think that we had another goal in us but… we’re delighted!”
BEARSTED (from): – Alexander Dewey, Henry Collins, Conor Goodwin, Edward Bensley, Joe Ford, Connor Wilkins, Taylor Naessens, Jake Embery, Raphe Brown, Luke Snazel, Billy O’Connell, Sami Meziane, Connor Cox, Brandan Smith, Simon Kabamba, Owen Spinola.
MAIDSTONE UNITED (from): – Mark Gill, Connor Morgan, Ryan Golding, Tom Lindsey, Joe Gravenell, Harry Miller, Bradley Taylor, Dylan Jones, Jonathan Tumber, Jordan Freeman, Jack Wooldridge, Archie Wrigglesworth, Marvin Armstrong, Ellison Rago, Izak Johnson, Jack Richards