Penalty kicks decided who was victorious as Cray Wanderers won the Kent U13 Boys Youth Cup.  

In what was a well matched affair with an even amount of possession, both teams showed resilience to hold each other to a draw.  

The first attempt didn’t come until mid-way through the first half when a long throw by Maidstone’s Ellis Shadwell was cleared out to Jecy Edorh who fired wide from just outside of the box. 

This was then followed by the first real chance for Cray, when Kaya Mahmutt’s well hit shot was easily gathered by Maidstone goalkeeper Christopher Swift. 

The tempo remained the same in the second half, with most of the possession coming in the middle of the pitch. 

Oliver Perkins had a big chance to give Cray the lead when he had the chance to shoot from an acute angle, forcing a good save out of Swift. 

Maidstone almost punished Cray for that miss by going close themselves, but Jecy Edorh’s shot was blocked by the Cray defence. 

Both teams remained strong and as extra time loomed, both teams would have thought they had a good chance of winning it. 

With minutes remaining in the first half of extra time, Cray went close through Michael Ihiedi when his shot was pulled just wide. 

Ultimately the game went down to penalties and it was Heath Cole-Goodwin who slotted home to give Cray victory after two great saves from Cray goalkeeper Harry Haines. 

Cray Wanderers: Haines, Redman, Dzontoh, Fowler, Cole-Goodwin, Sadlier, Butcher, Haywood, Perkins, Ihiedi, Hards 

Substitutions: McCallum, Elueme, Mahmutt, Cook 

Manager: Steve Owen 

Maidstone United: Swift, Shadwell, Choli, Cleaver, Morris, Freeman, Cole, Tossell, Edorh, Harris, O’Neill

Substitutions: Stirman, Oliver, Neale, Brooks, Head

Manager: Joel Attwood 

Referee: Ben Fuller

Assistants: Samsul Hadi & Louis Brooks 

Fourth Official: Joshua Edorh