Kent Merit Under-15 Boys Plate Final: Vinters Rangers 1 Wigmore Youth 3

Two second-half goals proved decisive as Wigmore Youth got the better of Vinters Rangers in the Kent Merit Under-15 Boys’ Plate Final at Sheppey’s Holm Park on Sunday.

Harry Elmer, Dylan Garlinge and George Durling were all on target while Wigmore were also indebted to man-of-the-match keeper Alfie Panks, who produced a series of impressive saves in the first half.

Wigmore boss Steven Bennett said: “It was a nervy first half from us and we took a while to get into it but once we started playing football the boys were amazing.

“It’s a bit emotional as some of these boys have been with us since they were seven or eight.

“Some of the saves our goalkeeper pulled off were ridiculous.”

Bennett has managed the side for eight seasons, first taking charge when he was just 17, and they could yet win the treble this campaign.

“Doing this role with these boys has been a really good experience and to have this Final at the end is amazing,” he said.

“We won our league last year - that was the first trophy we’d ever won - and we’ve got the League Cup Final next week and have games in hand in the league.”

After some early stops from Panks, Wigmore took the lead on 17 minutes through Elmer’s neat finish into the bottom corner.

Panks then tipped over to deny Archie Richardson but he was beaten just before the half-hour when Vinters equalised through skipper Harry Brooks’ free-kick.

Vinters were in the ascendancy before the break but George Stone could only pick out Panks, who then denied Ethan Eakins. Early in the second half, Panks was at full stretch to push Reese Back’s 20-yard shot behind for a corner.

Wigmore, who had gone close to taking the lead through Elmer and Joshua Dixon, went ahead on 64 minutes as Garlinge nipped in and