Oakwood Park Grammar School’s under-13s team secure Kent Cup and Maidstone Cup in back-to-back seasons

Oakwood Park Grammar School’s under-13s team have written themselves into the history books, securing a cup double for the second consecutive year as they won the Kent Cup and the Maidstone Cup in back-to-back seasons.

They beat Hurstmere 3-2 in a thrilling Kent Cup final at Herne Bay’s Winch’s Field.

Hurstmere provided a formidable test but Oakwood Park’s resilience and character proved the difference again.

Maidstone-based Oakwood took a deserved lead in the 15th minute when Sonny Dinning fired home.

After an excellent save from goalkeeper Jude Body, the rebound was slotted in from close range as Hurstmere made it 1-1.

Following the restart, Hurstmere struck again when a hopeful ball into the box caused problems.

The equaliser came through a moment of quality on the left wing. Joey French drove at Hurstmere's defence and picked out the unmarked Andreas Koffas to tap home. It was then Oakwood who made the decisive breakthrough.

Koffas again found himself through on goal and, as the goalkeeper and defender scrambled to intervene, the ball broke loose for Koffas to fire in and complete a dramatic turnaround.

In the Maidstone Cup against a strong Wrotham side, Oakwood led at the break through Dinning.

They moved through the gears in the second half, scoring five more to run out 6-0 winners. The goals came from Ese Makelemi (2), captain Jude Higman, Koffas, and player-of-the-match Costa Adrianovs.

Teacher Sam Smith praised his players’ resilience and attitude.

“This group of boys really do not know when they are beaten,” he said. “They are an absolute pleasure to coach and they fully deserve the recognition for achieving a historic double-double.

“The challenge for them now is to try to emulate the previous Oakwood Park