Tony Oladipupo scored the only goal as Kings Hill beat Stansfeld O&B to win the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield at Chatham’s Bauvill Stadium on Friday night.
Oladipupo got on the end of a cross from player-assistant manager Connor Heffernan in first-half stoppage-time to make it 1-0 in front of a 341-strong crowd.
The goal came after a chaotic two-minute spell around 10 minutes earlier saw Kings Hill skipper Connor Charlton’s header ruled to not have crossed the line, before Stansfield defender Ossie Bayram thumped a header of his own against the bar.
Stansfeld pushed hard for an equaliser after the restart and thought they should have had a stoppage-time penalty but those appeals were waved away, with George Oldfield being sent off by referee Ben Marshall late on as tempers boiled over.
Kings Hill manager Patrick Lee said: “We started off quite brightly, but I personally feel that we could have played better. I think the situation got to the boys a little bit, [although] that’s perfectly normal.
“But the way they played and the character they showed sort of sums up how the season has gone for us, especially the second-half of the season with us being a brand-new set up, really.
“I couldn't be more proud of the way they played.”
The game’s first chance saw Oladipupo blaze over with an effort from outside the penalty box with three minutes played.
Kings Hill continued to have the better of the early exchanges, though, as Frankie Smith’s strike was deflected wide before Oladipupo failed to convert a Jack Hyslop corner in the ninth minute.
Three minutes later, Stansfeld threatened for the first time through Aaron Walker’s free-kick which was comfortably gathered by Kings Hill goalkeeper Jack King.
Another chance came on
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