After a battle royal between Willesborough’s 44 goal striker Riley Alford and Metrogas keeper Marks Worsford, it was Alford who literally had the last laugh as his 45th goal of the season won the Junior A Cup deep into stoppage time.
Time and again Worsford denied the Ashford side with a string of sensational saves as a magnificent contest twisted and turned.
And when Willesborough were reduced to ten men in the closing stages it looked advantage Metrogas. But Alford had other ideas scoring a magnificent goal that sealed a magnificent victory to break the hearts of Worsford and his team mates.
Lee James, the Willesborough boss, was still in a state of shock when he spoke to KSN.
“We felt that the game was going our way after they weren’t in front at half time, but then our keeper went off and we began to wonder.”
“But football can be a cruel game and it was cruel on Metrogas today unfortunately! They missed some good chances first half that would have changed the game, but at the end of the day it was a good game of football between two good sides – we had a good battle and a great advert for the Kent Cup and the Kent FA!”
“We always want to do well in the competition and after good games in the last eight and last four it was great for us to be involved in a brilliant game.”
“We couldn’t put the ball in the net today and I think we lost in the first half in truth. Possibly we could have tested the stand-in keeper a little more, but we did exactly what we set out to do in our game plan but unfortunately it just wasn’t to be today.” said Metrogas’ boss.
“We didn’t get the run of the green but we had the chances to win the game – it’s very frustrating after getting to the Final. It’s our first season in the Kent County League and we’ve done well to get here, but it’s just so frustrating at the moment – but we’ll go again next week and try and get the runners up spot in the League.”
Willesborough made the better start with both James and Alford bringing fine saves out of keeper Worsford in the opening ten minutes.
On the quarter hour, keeper Matt King denied Dan Jeffrey on the very edge of the Willesborough box, and as the keeper lay injured just outside the area, Jeffrey’s shot clipped the post and rebounded before referee Nick Fruin blew the play dead so that the stricken keeper could receive attention.
Just past the half hour, Alford was again denied by Worsford as the striker made room for himself on the edge of the box and tried to curl it into the bottom corner. The keeper though had other ideas making a sensational finger tipped save. The game was now end to end and only Jeffrey will know how he didn’t hit the target after brilliant work from Luke Whitehead at the other end.
On 65 minutes Willesborough lost keeper King with a leg injury meaning that full back Kenny Denton had to take over in goal, and although Metrogas had plenty of the ball, in truth they didn’t really test the stand-in keeper.
Indeed, it was almost as though Willesborough were now inspired and fashioned the next chance that saw Deon Bepe denied by Worsford’s feet, but both sides began to feel their exertions with players on both sides feeling strains and cramps which didn’t help the flow of the game as the second half ticked by.
With ten minutes left Jack Saunders’ curling shot was a coat of paint away from giving Metrogas the lead as it scraped the bar, before the game turned again in Gas’ favour as Willesborough were reduced to ten men when Bazz Ahmetaj was shown a straight red card for a clumsy challenge on Joe Plant.
Incredibly it was Willesborough who had the next chance but again keeper Worsford was the Metrogas hero with a brilliant block to deny Josh Jones.
Alford then won the Cup for the Ashford side deep into stoppage time as he curled an absolute beauty that even Worsford couldn’t reach as it flew into the net – a truly sensational win for the ten men.
Metrogas FC – Mark Worsford, Alex Mackenzie, Rob Smith, Nathan Thornton, Matt Parker, Tom Warner, Jack Saunders, Joe Plant, Dan Jeffrey, Mitchell Hill, Luke Whitehead
Subs – Jay Green, Charlie Bond, James Abrahams, Sam Farr, Ross Jay
Willesborough AFC – Matt King, Kenny Denton, Mark Wallis, Ollie Perkins, Jamie Hurst, Bazz Ahmetaj, Steve Powell, Deon Bepe, Riley Alford, Josh Jones
Subs – Ben Holliday, Prason Rai, Paldon Bepe, Jamie Ades, Lewis Rae
Referee – Nick Fruin
Assistants – Howard Collins, Kieron Stoneham and Mike Sullivan
Match Photos by PSP Images.