A goal worthy of winning any game let alone a Cup Final sealed Metrogas the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield.

The game, (sponsored by Demelza Hospice Care for Children), saw Metrogas win at the expense of a battling Bexley side in front of a sizeable Saturday night crowd at Sporting Club Thamesmead.

In an enjoyable early start, both sides had chances – for Bexley, an early header had Metrogas keeper Dan Edwards scrambling across his goal to save.

Metrogas forced three early corners as the wind whistled round Sporting Club Thamesmead but despite a touch of panic in the Bexley defence, the bulk of the danger was averted.

The game’s opening goal arrived on 25 minutes when Pat Hitchin sprinted past the Bexley defence and fired a shot across Sam Armfield and in off the right hand post giving the keeper no chance and Metrogas the lead.

Bexley though responded well and Ted Datson shot straight at Edwards when well placed, but it sparked Bexley into full flow and seven minutes from half time a free kick into the Metrogas box caused chaos as the keeper flapped at the ball.

In the end it fell to Owen Griffiths who gleefully fired home to send the teams in at half time level.

Early in the second half there was another mad melee – this time in the Bexley box – saw keeper Armfield twice knock the ball onto the crossbar before Hitchin thought he’d scored his second of the night, only for referee Proctor to disallow for handball – Hitchin was booked for his protests.

And you can bet that his protests grew even louder ten minutes later when Metrogas scored the goal that won the Shield with a goal good enough to win any game.

Some super play down the right hand side with some great one touch inter play was eventually worked across for Dave Milton to come in from the left and bury the ball into the bottom corner.

It was a fitting way to win the Trophy and as try as they might, Bexley couldn’t get back into the game and the Shield was heading for Metrogas’ boardroom.

Not that the result was a surprise to Metrogas boss Roy Davies. “It was a competition that we entered for the first time and we were determined to win it,” he told KSN after the game.

“To play at this terrific venue against a very good side has made it a very good night for all concerned at the club.”

“We’ve got a very good side and I was disappointed with the way that we conceded just before half time especially as we’d spoken about conceding free kicks there.”

“We told the boys that they’ve got a great defensive record so if we got a chance we’ll have to take it and it would be that close… and so it proved!”

BEXLEY – Sam Armfield, Charlie Livett, Alex Legge, Georgie Jones, Joe Woodcock, Sam Hellens (Ellis Saunders 23), Tom Kelly, Josh Armfield, Joe Neil, Owen Griffiths, Ted Danson

Subs – Tom Peck, Dan Bygrave, Adam Hills

METROGAS – Dan Edwards, Rob Quick, Sean O’Sullivan, Nick Curran, Tom Gibbons, Dane Milton, Tom Forster, Pat Hitchin, Tom Maloney, Jack Gibbons, Harry Rogers

Subs – Paul Henett, Dean Heather, Joe Bumstead, Dan Beszant, Alex Tarrant

Referee – Roy Davies

Assistants – Joe Glover & Harry Wager

Fourth Official – Danny Roberts

Pictures supplied by www.psp-images.co.uk