DFDS Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield Final: Stansfeld O&B 1 Red Velvet 5

Player-of-the-match James Dyer scored four goals as Red Velvet came from behind to win the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield Final at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium on Saturday.

Stansfeld O&B had taken an 18th-minute lead through Oliver Wright’s header but Frank McLaren nodded in an equaliser before Dyer took centre stage.

“To come back from 1-0 down and show that character was great,” said Red Velvet manager Ian Jenkins. “The plans we put together at training on Thursday was exactly how we played.

“When you’ve got someone like James Dyer in your team who can score four goals, that’s the difference having someone like that.

“He’s hit a few of them, like the first one he scored, since he’s been with us but no goalkeeper in the world is going to stop that.

“Defensively we were sound, even though they had a few shots at the end, we put our bodies on the line. Then when you’ve got Cameron Macmillan on the break, creating three goals for James in the second half, they’re always going to be a threat up front together.

“It’s fantastic to win this at the end of the season. I’d rather have won the league but the young lads are all going to enjoy winning this now.

“It’s just a shame we haven’t done it throughout the season as we should be winning our league or coming close.”

Velvet hit the woodwork as early as the 10th minute, Lewis Oborne’s cross-shot coming back off the crossbar before Jay Oborne’s header lacked power.

Stansfeld went ahead when keeper Jack Rankin misjudged Zach Garcia’s deep left-wing corner and Wright climbed highest to put this side ahead.

But the lead lasted only two minutes as Dyer’s free-kick was flicked in by McLaren.

Then Dyer took centre stage, scoring the goal of the game as Velvet kept the ball alive