Kings Hill needed extra-time to finally overcome a plucky Aylesford side despite racing into a two-goal lead in the Kent Merit Under-15 Girls Cup Final.
The game at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium looked to be heading in only one direction as Kings Hill came flying out of the blocks scoring twice in the six minutes and creating a series of chances.
“The girls were brilliant,” said Kings Hill manager Clive Francis. “It was a big loss losing Sophie Marsh to injury after 10 minutes having scored the first goal.
“To be fair, Aylesford came back well and put us under lots of pressure. We had some chances late in the second half but credit to the girls in extra-time to come back and win it like that.
“We made it hard work for ourselves. For some reason, we lacked a bit of legs but it was all about winning and I’m ecstatic for them.
“We should have won the league and the league cup last season but we lost them both – lost the final league game and then a cup final – so it’s great for them to come back like this.”
Kings Hill went ahead after three minutes. There appeared to be no danger when a cross fell to Sophie Marsh with her back to goal but she quickly turned and found the back of the net from 20 yards with a stunning finish.
Marsh collected the ball again 60 seconds later and with the crowd urging her to shoot, she duly obliged from 25 yards but her shot dipped just over the bar.
Encouraged by her team-mate’s sharp shooting, Heidi Boxer let fly a minute later but keeper Lucy-Louise Morley pushed her low drive around the post.
Boxer’s corner set up the second goal as a dangerous ball into the six-yard box hit an unfortunate defender before creeping inside the upright.
Then a perfect tackle from Aylesford’s Bella Talty denied Kings Hill a clear run on goal and the chance of a third goal.
Having survived the early onslaught with no further damage, Aylesford were handed a way back into the contest on 20 minutes when the otherwise faultless Abigail Francis needlessly bundled the willing Kelsi Wilkinson over in the box and Grace Garner confidently tucked away the spot-kick.
Saibh Pritchard impressed in midfield alongside Boxer and she played a couple of lovely one-twos on the edge of the box but was not rewarded with a goal.
A surging run into the box by Boxer early in the second half ended with Ayla Ryan firing wide for Kings Hill.
Aylesford were back on level terms after 47 minutes. Charlotte Harrison-Carroll’s free-kick was not gathered cleanly by the keeper and Emily Rowan’s centre was nodded in by defender Holly Reach.
The chances dried up for both sides as they both kept plenty of players behind the ball. An excellent tackle by Aylesford’s Ebony Chapman thwarted Boxer and Ivie Pritchard shot agonisingly wide after being sent clean through.
The game went to extra-time and Kings Hill deservedly managed to get themselves ahead when a right-wing corner was headed home by player-of-the-match Savannah O’Neill, who was excellent in defence throughout.
They then settled the contest when Boxer scored from distance after an initial effort by Saibh Pritchard came back off the woodwork.
The margin of victory could have been even greater as Ivie Pritchard twice went close, including from the final kick of the game.
Kings Hill: Lexie Scott, Abigail Francis, India Elson, Summer Cheeseman, Caitlin Fawell, Ayla Ryan, Ivie Pritchard, Sophie Bruce, Sophie Marsh, Heidi Boxer, Savannah O’Neill, Jess Risdon, Isabelle Garland, Violet Saunders, Felicity Parker, Saibh Pritchard.
Aylesford: Lucy-Louise Morley, Bella Talty, Holly Reach, Amber Ruthven, Leah-May Bridger, Ebony Chapman, Keeley Morgan, Grace Garner, Abbie Williams, Charlotte Harrison-Carroll, Kelsi Wilkinson, Emily Rowatt, Scarlett Allen, Sofia Novella, Isla Thornton.
Referee: Rosie Scott.
