Kent Junior C Cup Final match report: Streatham 3 Dover Rangers 2

An entertaining five-goal Kent Junior C Cup Final went the way of Streatham against Dover Rangers at Chatham’s Bauvill Stadium on Saturday.

In a showdown which included two quickfire double salvos, man-of-the-match Mohamed Abdi-Gani got the vital winning goal for Streatham.

“This is our first major trophy as a club,” revealed Hussein Hussein, the manager of the Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Division 2 side.

“I can only thank my players and my staff for all the work that goes on behind the scenes, as well as the work from our sponsors and the councils. We have our councillor from Streatham, Martin Abrams, here.

“These boys go through a lot. To get a moment of exposure like this, that’s a huge honour.

“I’m very grateful to the Kent FA, our opposition (Dover Rangers) - who made it even more special - and I just cannot put what I feel into words.

“I’m just ecstatic for my boys.”

Runaway Canterbury & District Saturday League Division 1 champions Dover Rangers, who beat Minster 1911 (2-1), the University of Kent Monument (2-1), Average Joe’s FC (5-1) and rivals Deal Town Rangers (2-1) to reach this stage, created the first opening. Scott Rayner drilled across goal in the third minute.

Five minutes later, goalkeeper Luke Hudson was out quickly to head clear before Streatham’s Radwan Ali could get the ball under his spell.

Streatham continued to grow into the match as Hudson again thwarted Ali, the same player missed the target and then Rangers’ keeper produced a superb fingertip save from captain Abdihakim Ali’s 23rd-minute free-kick.

Hussein’s team did go ahead three minutes later, though.

Abdi-Gani sent Hudson the wrong way with the penalty he had won for a foul given by referee Michael Dye as Streatham’s top scorer