Kent’s Premier Sunday Cup returned to Medway following Chatham Town Sundays’ win over Dolphin Kings United in the last of the held-over 2019/2020 County Finals.

But the Final will be remembered not for Sam Stace’s delightful header that gave Chatham the lead, or for Ben Percy’s Man of the Match performance and two stunning strikes, but sadly for the disgraceful scenes that followed Percy’s second goal in the second half that led to the game being halted and then abandoned/forfeited.

The Medway side created the best of the chances in the opening minutes as United keeper Rob Salisbury saved well from Sam Stace, and Stace then couldn’t hit the target as he lifted the ball over the advancing keeper, before missing the golden chance to break the deadlock as Jack Couzins deflected shot fell to him six yards out only for the striker to blaze high over!

Stace though wasn’t to be denied and just past the quarter hour he gave the Medway side the lead as Callum Pack played a terrific ball into the box and he ghosted in with a header that beat Salisbury and nestled in the corner of the net. The lead was doubled shortly after as Stace superbly turned provider for Percy as he played a delightful one-two before slotting the ball past the advancing keeper.

It was nearly three nil on thirty-four minutes as Salisbury couldn’t hold Lee Armstrong’s drive, but the keeper did just enough to deny Stace from netting his second before Percy was denied by a last gasp block from a defender.

The second half had hardly started when it was stopped when someone thought it would be a good idea to soak keeper Dean Bate in alcohol as he was waiting to take a goal kick.

After a short delay the keeper tried to restart only for it to happen again and after a quick kit change, play restarted after a nine-minute break that left the United players and management looking on in disbelief! And when play did eventually restart, Bate was Chatham’s hero making a brilliant reflex save to keep out Alfie Foster’s bullet header from Sam Crompton’s corner.

Willing to soak up the Thanet side’s pressure – as well as the supporter’s refreshments – Chatham were always a threat on the break – Peck embarked on an incredible mazy run that left defenders in has wake. It was just a shame that the finish couldn’t have matched the run and then Percy was denied his second and his side’s third by a smart Salisbury save his near post, but just moments later he wasn’t to be denied as he got on the end of Peck’s excellent pull back to drill the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Sadly the goal sparked disgraceful scenes at the other end of the ground behind the goal as “supporters” clashed causing yet another halt in play as players from both sides tried to stop the lunacy that has absolutely no place anywhere near a football pitch, let alone at a prestigious County Cup Final and lead to the Thanet side offering to forfeit the game and the Trophy – not that any side would want to win a Trophy in these shameful circumstances.

A disappointing end to a marvellous series of Finals for which the County FA can again be rightly proud of…

CHATHAM TOWN SUNDAYS – Dean Bate, Connor Miller, Ryan Laker, Joe Hughes, Sam Davies, Jake Bell, Lee Armstrong, Ben Percy, Jack Couzins, Sam Stace, Callum Peck.

Subs – Lewis Bell, Matt Rowe, Max Morgan, Bailey Pierce, Luke Armour.

DOLPHIN KINGS UNITED – Rob Salisbury, Jack Paxman, Matt Jones, Alfie Foster, Ben Windsor, Nick Treadwell, Sam Lawrence, Sam Cliff, Luke Hillman, Kane Rowland, Zack Thomas.

Subs – Joshua Williams, Sam Compton, Finlay McConnell, Daniel Barrett, Mitchell Lange.

REFEREE – Mr Blades

ASSISTANTS – Mr Donnelly & Mr Covington

FOURTH OFFICIAL – Mr Zachwieja 

Pictures supplied by PSP Images.