Nearly two months after their semi-finals, Lordswood and Tooting Bec contested the final of the Southern Counties East Football League Division One Cup at Cray Wanderers’ Flamingo Park Stadium.

Although it appeared that the cup would be heading into Kent when they were two-one up as the match moved into stoppage time, an equaliser, followed by a penalty shoot-out success, meant that the Bec returned home victorious.

It was still not one o’clock, the scheduled kick off time, when Tooting Bec took a third minute lead. Nile Waite drilled in a low cross, George Bentley couldn’t hold it, and Alimamy Taylor-Kamara was on hand to put it away.

Thomas Davey’s afternoon was then ended early and he appeared to be in agony when he was stretchered off after a long wait. Nathaniel Murray came on for the Lords who were forced into making a change to their shape with Timmy Babington moving from the wing to play as their central striker.

Aiden Sanfelice drew a good save out of Bentley, then Waite eased in from the left wing and rolled it just beyond the far post. However, the Lords finished the first half strongly. Tadiwanashe Nago hit an optimistic effort from forty yards well over, then Tooting struggled to clear a corner and Dominic Oakes made an outstanding save from a close range Freeman Rogers shot.

Having struggled to get any change from Taylor-Kamara, Rameses Meseorisa switched to the right wing and the move paid dividends in half time stoppage time. A brilliant diagonal cross field pass from Murray picked him out behind the back line and he eased in before slotting past Oakes.

Taylor-Kamara came close to putting the Bec back ahead with a fluke when his deep cross was caught in the wind and clipped the bar on the way over before the first half drew to a close.

Early in the second half Waite fired an effort straight down Bentley’s throat before the Lords went ahead on the hour mark. Babington used his strength and skill to cut in along the bye-line before striking it hard and low into the middle. Although Oakes did well to palm it out, it struck his captain Jack Martin and ricocheted back for an own goal.

Abioseh Davies put a reaction header over for the Bec before Martin was unable to keep his long range effort down. Rogers then came close to extending the Lords’ lead when glancing a header wide from a George Miles long throw.

As the game moved into the latter stages, the game became more stretched and Babington broke through but couldn’t beat Oakes before Bec substitute Kai Udondem stung Bentley’s palms with a fierce shot that he pushed up and caught.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Tooting Bec levelled. Sonny Harnett-Balkwell was pushed up front and he headed beyond Bentley from close range when meeting Taylor-Kamara’s cross, and the tie moved to penalties.

After five spot-kicks apiece, the score was four-four with the goalkeepers having saved one each. Martin then converted before Oakes saved from Miles to win the cup for the Bec. 

Lordswood: Bentley; Shadwell, Rogers, Harris, Miles; Nago (Williams 83), Tristram; Meseorisa, Medhurst; Babington; Davey (Murray 12).

Subs not used: S. Wright, J, Wright, Plummer.

Goal scorers: Meseorisa (45+2), Martin own goal (60) 

Yellow cards: Miles (79 foul), Tristram (90+5 foul) 

Tooting Bec: Oakes; Taylor-Kamara, Harnett-Balkwill, Farrow, Antwi; Martin, Sanfelice (Tedros 63); Ogbanufe (Negassi 75), Davies, Waite; Okunlola (Udondem 63).

Subs not used: Degannes-Fidyk, Skibiuski. 

Goal scorers: Taylor-Kamara (3), Harnett-Balkwill (90+2)

Yellow card:  Harnett-Balkwill (86 foul)

Referee: Darren Kempson

Assistant referees: Katie Allen and Jack Matthews

Fourth official: Jack Smith

Attendance: