Kent Merit Under-13 Girls’ Cup Final: Crayford Arrows 0 Sittingbourne Youth 1

Sittingbourne Youth edged an entertaining Kent Merit Under-13 Girls’ Cup final against Crayford Arrows.

A goal from Katie Winslade six minutes into the second half proved the difference between the sides on Sunday at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium.

Sittingbourne manager Neil May said: “We’ve had some good battles with each other over the years.

“I thought we were a bit nervous but we stuck to the game plan. We could have created more but we got the goal and won the cup.

“It’s the first time we can come into the Kent Cup at our age group, we won the London Cup last year so lift the Kent one is a great achievement as well.

“The girls work hard so I want them to enjoy the victory. On the balance, I think we deserved to win.”

The pace of Bella-Rosa Togar posed an early threat for Sittingbourne but her pull back was well defended by Crayford before Raffaella Camelia’s right-wing corner flashed across the six-yard box.

Crayford’s defending was excellent. On the backfoot for long periods, they kept their shape well and looked to break on the counter, with the neat footwork of Luiza Pascal driving her team up the pitch.

At the back, centre-half Sophia Fawn was superb alongside player-of-the-match left-back Marnie Fletcher, who made countless important tackles.

Sittingbourne’s Winslade strode forward just before half-time but saw her long-range effort pushed behind by keeper Maddie Phelps and then Cara Campbell’s low drive came back off the post.

The only goal arrived after the break when Winslade’s free-kick was headed away by Rihanna Tough but the referee deemed that the ball had crossed the line.

Crayford looked to reply but Hollie Cross’ early cross-shot went wide after she was played in down the right.

Sittingbourne’s