City too fast for Stones in county cup final
Rochester City’s pace attack proved too much for Maidstone United to handle in a 4-1 Kent Merit Under-14 boys cup final win at Sheppey’s Holm Park.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the early exchanges, with Maidstone’s Harrison Fryer’s looped header hitting the bar.
It needed a brilliant save from Rochester keeper Rex Porter to deny Maidstone a 20th-minute lead as he turned behind Rhys Morfey’s 20-yard blockbuster.
It took just two minutes of the second half for the first goal to arrive. Akshar Santhosh’s left-wing delivery was on a plate for Nathaniel Waul to volley home first time.
Maidstone replied, a quick-flowing move involving Junior Eseka, Archie Dobbin and Louie Dayal saw the latter’s left-wing cross well claimed. Porter was unable to gather a towering right-wing cross on 45 minutes and Louie Dayal hooked home the loose ball, but Rochester restored their lead with 13 minutes left when Flynn’s touch took him ahead of the last defender and he beat Lucas Brookman. Stones centre-back Alfee Wincott and Archie Dobbin both went close before
Medard Bote-Godri was stretchered off with a leg injury.
The tie was wrapped up in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Flynn beat the offside trap and played in Santhosh who found the far corner.
A fourth arrived two minutes later, an uncontested drop ball allowed Rochester to put the ball behind the Maidstone defence and Santhosh produced a repeat finish.
The score was harsh on Maidstone, particularly Brookman and Wincott, who both did little wrong on the day. Maidstone: