An incredible end to an enthralling final saw Red Arrow Sports score three times in the last ten minutes to win the Junior Cup B against a shell shocked Kingsdale side who last season won the Junior Cup C.

With Kingsway leading 2-1 through goals from Scott Barnes and Daniel Dixson (Aaron Ledger replying for Sports), the Thanet side missed a penalty as Rob Harnett thundered the spot kick against the bar and all looked lost for Sports.

Ledger though had other ideas and gloriously levelled with five minutes to go before Harnett redeemed himself with a stunning strike to give Sports the lead for the first time.

And when substitute Nick Dawes added a fourth with literally the last kick of the game to send the Cup heading down the Thanet Way…

For boss Paul Mayo, for whom it could be his final game, it could be a fitting end to a 28 year career “It was a good game – a very good game!” he told KSN.

“Now I can retire on a very high note – if the boys will let me. Did not see that coming – I was expecting Extra Time.  When they were 2-1 up, I still thought that we could have got the equaliser as we had a lot of chances, but I could never have dreamed a finish like that!

“It’s the first time that Red Arrow Football Club have made the Kent Final and it’s going to be a good night for us…”

Meanwhile Kingsdale boss Jim Kenny just shrugged his shoulders as he spoke to KSN.

“It’s hard to take – our game plan that was working, but we looked really leggy towards the end. They looked so much fresher and our legs had gone – we put a shift in today and I couldn’t have asked any more.”

“We lost a lot of our squad when the season started and if you’d have told me then that we would be safe in the League and be here today… the boys have done me proud, they really have! But it’s all about taking chances after all; we didn’t, they did!”

Kingsdale got the perfect start when Scott Barnes was left unmarked at the back post to head home Shaun McDermott’s corner in the opening minute.

Sports’ response was immediate and Durmush Durmush fired into the side netting after rounding keeper Dan West, before the keeper pulled off the first of a series of fine saves – blocking with his legs to deny Aaron Ledger.

Ledger though levelled the score on 15 minutes – beating West to a cross. Kingsdale were back in front eight minutes from half time when Dixson slid in at the far post to score after Aaron Nicholas’ shot had beaten Daryl Pearson in the Sports goal. Whether it was going in or not is open to question but Dixson made sure for good measure.

Sports had a golden chance to level for a second time on 67 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. Durmush burst into the box and his shot came back off the post and in the ensuing scramble, West brought down Ledger giving referee Paternoster little option but to point to the spot.

Rob Harnett sent West the wrong way but his penalty crashed back off of the underside of the crossbar. Barnes was then denied by Pearson’s right boot before totally out of nothing the scores were levelled as Ledger hit the top corner with an angled drive with just four minutes of the ninety left!

Incredibly Sports then hit the front for the first time as Harnett went from villain to hero as he strode onto a half cleared ball and sent a bullet of a drive which barely left the surface of the Gallagher pitch as it whistled into the bottom corner.

Kingsdale had to push on but were caught on the break as Sports sealed the win with the last kick of the game as Dawes kept his composure to drill home to seal an incredible comeback and what just ten minutes earlier was a highly unlikely win for the Thanet side.

In an era where match officials often receive criticism especially from losing sides, the following from Kingsdale the coach really shows just what a fine contest this really was.

He said, “I’d also like to say that I thought all four officials were absolutely spot on today – they were superb.  Officials get a lot of bad press these days, but these guys were brilliant and well done to them as well!”

 

Kingsdale – Dan West, Shane Westaway, Andre Marques, Shaun McDermott, John Slade, Dan Cooper, Bobby Casey, Aaron Nicholas, Scott Barnes, Junior Kehinde, Daniel Dixson

Subs – James Black, Trevis Jones, Joshua Brown, Dean Pearce, Jack McGinn

Red Arrow Sports – Daryl Pearson, Nick Harnett, Ben Jackson, Lee Rattenbury, Paul Barnett, Ron Harnett, Ian Salisbury, Ollie Rose, Kyle Holden, Darmush Durmush, Aaron Ledger

Subs – Nick Dawes, Hayden Suter, Jacob Burton, Anthony Todd, Chris Morris

Referee – Jamie Paternoster
Assistants – Ian Cowell, Andy Worthington and Kevin Fraser

 

Match photos by PSP Images.