For the second week in a row I came for a 10.30 am. kick-off, to the home of Chatham Town, at the Bauvill Stadium, to watch Dover Rangers FC play Old Roan FC in the Kent County Junior B Cup Final. Both sides had demolished semi final opposition to get this far, with Old Roan FC beating Bligh Sports FC 8-2 and Dover Rangers FC beating Riverside FC 9-1.

Dover Rangers play in the Canterbury & District Football League Premier Division, and have had a really successful season winning the title, despite having three games left to play. Goals have been plentiful with Dover Tangers scoring 97 goals in just 17 games, and Ryan Sewell, Luke Reeve (both 30 goals) and Bradley Baker (20 goals) have led the way. Manager, Jason Fisher and Coach, Hayden Sharp would have been very hopeful that their side would walk away with a trophy today.

Old Roan FC play in the Bromley and South London Football League Premier Division and they too, have been crowned champions with games in hand. Their goals this season have come from Sill Benson (14 goals), Pat Brennan (12 goals) and Jack Sproul (7 goals). Manager Tom Lawrance knows his team come into today’s final with an unbeaten league record, which would have instilled confidence.

The game opened with both sides testing each other with some quick passing and ferocious tackling in the midfield.

In the 19th minute Old Roan FC were ahead, with a fine left footed half volley from Harry Simmons, which settled in the roof of the net.

The next 30 minutes saw extensive pressure from Old Roan FC, including a straight run of four corners, resulting in a header which fladhed narrowly wide of the goal.

In the 36th minute it was 2-0 with a fine strike from distance by Jack Sproul, which really drove Dover Rangers FC heads down, as the sides went into the half time break, divided by a two goal margin.

The second half saw a resurgent Dover Rangers FC, who, driven from the back by Brad Baker’s passing and Carson Philpott and Ryan Sewell’s tackling, did all they could to reduce the deficit. However Old Roan FC, who were shepherded in the heat of the morning by the energy of Ted Woodward, never breached and demonstrated good game management to close the game out.

At full time it was Old Roan FC who took the Cup, with Ted Woodward being named man of the match. Both teams had delivered an entertaining final in sun-baked conditions.