Kent Senior Cup final: Folkestone Invicta 2 Dartford 6 match report

Dartford came from behind to put six past Folkestone and retain the Kent Senior Cup.

Ade Yusuff’s first-half opener was cancelled out by Luke Allen and Ali Mansaray put Darts in front.

David Smith made it 2-2 but Dartford stormed clear with goals from Connor Essam, Ade Azeez (2) and Danny Leonard.

Given the game was arranged at short notice, and with the Isthmian League season over three weeks ago, Folkestone did well to get a strong side out.

Tim Roberts and Josh Vincent were the only absentees from what Neil Cugley would perhaps consider his strongest XI while Dartford, beaten in the National South play-off eliminator last week, played a mixture of first-team and academy players.

Darts had their first-choice centre-backs playing in captain Tom Bonner and fit-again Essam, which made for a fascinating battle with Invicta’s dangerous front two of Smith and Yusuff.

An open game provided plenty of entertainment for a healthy crowd of 496 at Chatham’s Maidstone Road.

Dartford had an early penalty appeal turned down when Azeez, latching on to Che Krabbendam’s pass, tumbled over Invicta keeper Connor Collins, but referee Harry Wager awarded a goal-kick.

Collins made a good save from Leonard’s strike before Invicta had a goal ruled out for offside, the flag going up after Yusuff followed in a shot from strike partner Smith.

The opening goal came in the 37th minute, Yusuff feeding Alfie Paxman before continuing his run into the box to bury the cross.

Collins made an outstanding save from Azeez’s fierce strike in the opening moments of the second half.

But he was caught out for Darts’ 52nd-minute equaliser, punching a clearance straight on to the head of Allen, who nodded it back over him into the empty net.

Krabbendam went close