A fairy-tale farewell goal for Taylor-Jay Heward capped Metrogas’ Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield final win over lower-division Aylesford on Friday night.
Only introduced as a late substitute, Heward netted a clinching stoppage-time goal in his team’s 4-1 victory at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium, which ended any chances of an Aylesford comeback after a second-half John Brown goal.
That came after Metrogas skipper Joe Smith, Kenzie Parkinson and Daniel Igwe had put Metrogas into a 3-0 half-time lead.
“The second half is always hard because, if you’re winning 3-0, they have nothing to lose,” said Metrogas manager Wayne Priestman.
“We knew we would have to ride our luck in the first five or 10 (second-half) minutes because we knew they would come out all guns blazing.
“To be fair, we just said to the boys ‘Don’t go bombing forwards, just control the game.’.
“Maybe, that harmed us a little bit. But the fourth goal, I’m pleased for TJ, the lad that’s come on.
“He’s been with us for such a long time, but he’s moving away. This is his last game.
“For him to score and go out with a goal in a final, I’m just buzzing for TJ.”
But Aylesford - still challenging for the Kent County League Division 1 Central & East title this season, having won the Kent Junior A Cup last May - looked the far more dangerous team in the opening minutes.
They even netted in the first 60 seconds as captain Bailey Pearce fired home, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Pearce was again involved in the fifth minute when he sent a right-wing delivery by George Hadley wide of Metrogas keeper Daryl Fishenden’s left-hand post.
But it was mid-table Kent County League Premier Division side Metrogas - a team which had dispatched Danson Sports,
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