Kent Merit Under-14 Girls Cup Final: Cray Wanderers 2 Foots Cray Lions 1

Cray Wanderers’ persistence finally paid off as they defeated a spirited Foots Cray Lions side in the Kent Merit Under-14 Girls Cup Final at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium on Sunday.

The magnitude of Lions’ resistance was underlined by the player-of-the-match award going to defender Chloe Garner.

Wanderers managed Danny Stanton said: “Foots Cray made it massively difficult for us.

“I knew they were going to put five at the back and sit deep as they know we are quick up top. I thought we dominated the first half but didn't create a lot of chances.

“They were up for it as it was a derby and they were probably the underdogs but I thought they would run out of steam a little bit. If we had been a bit better with our finishing we could have won by a few more.

“Cup finals are there to be won so I can’t complain. The girls are doing amazing things and most of them are under-13s so they’re playing a year up.”

Lions’ gameplan was clear to see as they defended deep and in numbers before breaking at speed on the counter.

It led to the first goal after just 11 minutes when Lions’ Evie McTernan did well to get ahead of her marker and spread the play to Lily Compton. Despite initially being halted, Compton never gave up and battled through before the ball fell perfectly to Freya Jackson, who brilliantly picked her spot from the edge of the box beyond keeper Daisy Jarrett.

Wanderers got into their stride and Rayne Bryan’s shot was pushed away to safety before Lola Baxter’s left-foot curler went just wide.

The silky skills of Chloe Boys were a feature of Cray’s attacking play and she nearly equalised having twisted and turned past four players to make her way into the penalty area, only to shoot just wide of the upright.

In defence,