It was tight, it was enthralling, and it had a controversial late night ending in a penalty shoot out that left many of the spectators totally bewildered as Kent Football United beat London Kent Football United 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

In the proverbial game of two halves, KFU raced into a two goal half time lead as Rachel Stevens hit the right note as she steered the ball past the advancing keeper before they were awarded a penalty which Lizzie Waldie despatched with some aplomb!

Incredibly after the break and having not threatened much in the opening 45 minutes, London hit back magnificently with Laura Susarta pulling a goal back minutes after Darcy Charlesworth had an effort come back off the cross-bar. 

Given the way in which the game had progressed, London almost beyond belief levelled the scores when Sarah Smith prodded the ball home as she raced onto a fine through ball.

Chances continued to come at a premium as extra time began, and as a result the scoreline remained at 2-2 on the 90 minute whistle.  Lucy Cockerill forced Jade Charlton into a fabulous save before at the other end Susarta shot wide and then with almost the last kick of the extra period, Emily Hart was inches away from being a heroine as her shot at the back post cleared the cross bar by inches…

And so the competition was to be decided by a shoot out – a shoot out that those who saw it, won’t forget in a hurry!

The first kick taken was brilliantly saved by KFU keeper Jordan Dawes with her right boot to deny Adele Keech.  “Goals” were then exchanged as Waldie, Megan Mansfield, Cockerill and Lizzie Adams made the score 2-2.  The third cycle ended with Becky Burnham putting KFU before the “fun” really started in round four, where both sides had their kick retaken for the keepers moving, but credit must be given to both Kirsty Cameron and Becky Burnham to hold their nerve to make the score 4-3 to KFU.

Sadly it was down to Susarta to continue the competition with her sides’ last kick but she pulled it wide of the right post to spark scenes of celebration and confusion, but on count back it was Kent Football United who lifted the Trophy.

KENT FOOTBALL UNITED – Jordan Dawes, Becky Burnham, Am Burnham, Charleen Cairn, Shannon Burden, Rikki Turner, Beth Smith, Lizzie Waldie, Chloe Francis, Lucy Cockerill, Rachel Stevens
Subs – Miya Kumar, Georgia Menditta, Chloe Dodds & Temi Adeyemi

LONDON KENT FOOTBALL UNITED – Jade Charlton, Hylspectatorsey Mansfield, Isabelle Mickalski, Megan Mansfield, Verity Snow-Burgess, Emily Hart, Adele Keech, Alicia Gibbs, Darcy Charlesworth, Laura Ausarta
Subs – Sophie Elder, Sarah Smith, Rachel Moore & Kirsty Cameron

Referee – Karen Jones
Assistants – Chris Robins, Leo Goodchild and Dan Barham