DFDS Kent Women’s Plate Final: Hollands & Blair 2 Tonbridge Angels 4

Tonbridge Angels got the better of Hollands & Blair in a highly-entertaining Kent Women’s Plate Final at Maidstone’s Gallagher stadium on Thursday.

All the goals came in an action-packed first half that resembled a basketball match at times with the game flowing from end to end in front of a bumper crowd.

Angels striker Grace Mayhead proved the difference with a hat-trick to take home the matchball and the player-of-the-match award.

Tonbridge manager Joe Rowe said: “It was a tough game and a lot of credit to Hollands & Blair as they made it really difficult for us, especially in the first half.

“When we did settle into the game and were able to play our football we were able to create high-quality chances and probably deserved to win it on the balance.

“Grace’s goals were all great finishes and that’s what she’s done all season. She’s on 31 goals now so she deserves a lot of credit in a high-pressure environment.

“We finished second in the league and are on a pretty good run, we’re 12 unbeaten and this has come at a right time.

“We deserved to be here and we wanted to put on a performance and get a result that we deserved so we’re very pleased.

“We play at Longmead so we know our style of play would be suited to the pitch here, we try to play out from one side, play nice and wide. We know that comes with risk but the reward is you get lots of opportunities and we created a lot.”

Both sides showed early nerves in the opening five minutes but once Tonbridge captain Aimee Churchill saw her sixth-minute free-kick saved, the chances flowed at either end.

Excellent Angels centre-back Megan Gill made a perfect tackle to deny Blair’s Laura Farley a clear run on goal before Tonbridge’s Hope Mumford was unable to turn the ball