Maidstone United Raiders Gold lived up to their name as they took the gold in the Kent Reliance Kent Disability Cup.

In a competition held in the shadow of the Kent FA’s headquarters at Cobdown in Aylesford and saw the Raiders battle through to beat a team from Folkestone Invicta Disability in an enjoyable final contest.

Sadly, a lack of entries forced the scheduled Disability Trophy tournament to be cancelled leaving the main competition with ten sides who were split into two groups of five.

The Tournament itself though was thoroughly entertaining with the Raiders Gold qualifying for the Semi Finals from Group B along with Folkestone where there were joined by group toppers Charlton Athletic AC Red and Milton and Fulston Spiders from Group B – the Spiders earning their last four place by beating Anchorians Equal Teams B in a feisty final group game.

 

The two semi finals were vastly contrasting as Folkestone proved too much for a Charlton side who missed several chances and hit the frame of the goal before Invicta Disability netted what proved to be the games on goal.  If the first semi final was close then the second was anything but as Raiders Gold ran out very comfortable 6-0 winners against the Spiders.

And so to the Final – which incidentally was a repeat of the days opening day which Raiders Gold won 3-1 – and despite Folkestone’s fine win over Charlton, they again had no answer to Maidstone who were inspired by player of the Tournament Connor Williams and netted two early goals to run out comfortable 2-0 winners to lift the trophy leaving manager and coach Lorraine Humm very happy when she spoke to KSN after the presentation of the Trophy.  “It’s been a long hard morning, but the boys have enjoyed it which is the main thing,” she said.  “I’d like to thank the Kent FA for putting it on and for Kent Reliance for sponsoring the event.”

 

“Today is like the FA Cup Final for these boys and so it is really important that we have events like this as there’s not a lot about for disabled players.  We’ve got the Kent Disability League who do a fantastic job, but this is like the FA Cup to the boys which is why it’s so important that the event’s like this are held as the lads really look forward to it!”