Kent Merit Under-18 boys cup final: Whitstable Town 2 Chatham Town 1

Two goals in as many first-half minutes helped 10-man Whitstable defeat Chatham in the Kent Merit Under-18 boys cup final at Ashford’s Homelands stadium on Sunday.

After a quiet opening when neither team really settled, Whitstable took the lead on 18 minutes as player-of-the-match Paddy Underhill scored from close range after excellent work by Euan Sallis.

Whitstable were in dreamland within a minute as Dexter Lee rounded keeper Bobby Crabb and had just enough power on his shot to trickle over the line, despite the best efforts of a retreating defender.

Ryan Rai shot over for Whitstable with Sallis also denied before the break.

Chatham’s sole threat was expertly snuffed out by Oscar Hird as Mike Seki looked to capitalise on Kaylam Burgess’ through ball.

Sallis again went close straight after the restart but Chatham gradually got themselves back into the contest.

An excellent run by Jude Watts beat three defenders before Archie Hatcher’s shot was blocked by his own player.

But the complexion of the game changed with 20 minutes left when Blijaris Tambe burst through for Chatham and Whitstable keeper Henry Duley halted his progress just outside the penalty area.

Referee Tom Marshall showed a red card to the keeper, leaving Sallis to take over between the sticks.

His first job was to clear Hatcher’s free-kick, albeit with his feet rather than his hands.

Too many Chatham set-pieces hit the wall or the first man, although they ensured a frantic finale when stand-in keeper Sallis fouled Lewis Bain, who picked himself up to convert the spot-kick five minutes from time.

There was to be no extra-time, though, as the 10 men of Whitstable held firm despite eight minutes of stoppage time.

Whitstable joint-manager Adam Reveley said: