Maidstone can’t find extra gear when they need it
Maidstone United’s under-15s suffered a 2-0 extra-time defeat to Bromley in Sunday’s Kent Merit Boys Cup Final.
There was, perhaps, little surprise the sides cancelled each other out during the 80 minutes of normal time as they had met only seven days earlier in the league.
It was down to some expert goalkeeping at either end, coupled with wayward finishing, that meant the final at Sheppey’s Holm Park needed extra-time.
The dangerous Ashley Tshitenga made the breakthrough at the end of the first period, and a second goal arrived in stoppage-time of the second period through Kian Downey.
First-half chances were at a premium, although playerof-the-match George Hill in
the Bromley goal produced a fantastic save to keep out Sonny Jackson’s header from a right-wing free-kick.
Akshar Santhosh dragged his shot wide for the Stones before Hill comfortably gathered
Ollie South’s long-range attempt.
After the break a dazzling run by Tshitenga saw him pull the ball back for Theo Egbri, but his shot was saved by keeper Lucas Brookman.
Maidstone’s Archie McCarthy drove into the penalty area but his pull-back was not converted by Logan Wallace. Harrison Fryer then shot straight at Hill who then denied Santhosh.
Bromley’s Tshitenga had a golden chance to win the tie with seven minutes left but was thwarted by Brookman. That said, their chances had been limited thanks mainly to an excellent display by centreback Alfee Wincott. Tshitenga’s shot in extratime went wide of the far post as he declined to cross but it mattered little in the 90th minute when he finally made the breakthrough, driving into the area before drilling home. Hill made another fine save to deny Akash Santhosh and McCarthy shot over as Maidstone pressed for an equaliser. But Bromley made the game safe in the third minute of stoppages when Tshitenga broke and the ball fell nicely for Downey to score into an empty net.
Lucas Brookman, Reuben Jones, Archie McCarthy, Alfee Wincott, Ollie South, Akash Santhosh, Archie Dobbin, Sonny Jackson, Dylan Simpson, Logan Wallace, Akshar Santhosh, Michael Gewitzke, Sam Fletcher, Harrison Fryer, Jack Kennedy.
Ayden Gillespie.