The Stones – South East Counties League Kent Division 1 champions – had opened the scoring when Jessica Flischer got a bit of luck as the ball squirmed over the line before Lucy Cockerill rammed Division 1 East leaders KFN level just before half time.
And when Temi Adeyemi was on hand to hook a corner into the net, Kent had an advantage – one that would have grown but for a series of great stops from Stones keeper Kay Doody.
Amanda Beeput sprinted away to level the scores again in the last 10 minutes before Nicola Morris kept her nerve to in the game for Maidstone.
Maidstone boss Paul Clark was full of praise for both sides when he spoke to KSN after the game, “I’m absolutely delighted for the Ladies and I thought the opposition were outstanding and gave us a terrific game and made it a very exciting Final. It was ninety minutes of chaos at the end of the day and somewhere down the line you have to control enough of the game to create the chances to hopefully walk away with something. I don’t think you could have got a more exciting Final – I don’t think you could have got a more enthralling spectacle.”
Maria Tomkins – Kent Football United’s Manager – was just as proud of her side. “I’m really proud of the all the girls for maintaining their standards all the way through thru the game. It’s our first season as a Ladies side and I couldn’t be prouder of my team. We missed our chances – we had more chances – and I do think that we should have won, but” she added, shrugging her shoulders, “that’s what makes Cup Finals so special! That’s how all Cup Finals should be – close and exciting! I thought we could have edged it. No one wants to lose a Cup Final but they’re a bonus. We want to get promoted next season and we’ve still got a League to win.”
There’s more action at Maidstone United FC tonight, Monday 27th March, when its the turn of the Kent Reliance Cup Finalists, Aylesford and Gillingham, to contest the silverware and kick-off is 7.45pm.
Photo – Stones TV
