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Sport

DFDS Kent Junior Cup C Final: Woodnesborough reserves 1 Bocca Juniors 2

By: Matthew Panting mpanting@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 22 May 2023

Updated: 08:18, 22 May 2023

Alfie Prior’s first-half double proved enough to give Bocca Juniors a deserved DFDS Kent Junior Cup C Final success at the Gallagher on Saturday.

Although Woodnesborough reserves pulled a goal back before the hour, Bocca saw the game out with few alarms.

DFDS Junior Cup C Final winners Bocca Juniors celebrate their success. Picture: Ian Scammell/PSP Images

Bocca player/manager Shqipron Ahmetaj said: “It was harder than it needed to be. We were very good in the first 20 minutes, they couldn’t get close to us and we moved the ball well.

“We tired in the heat. In the second half, for whatever reason, we didn’t come out and they came out flying.

“Once they scored we had to battle and I thought we did.

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“It’s great to have Alfie, he’s an unreal player. There’s not much he can’t do, the boy is so talented and I think he can play at a much higher level.

“We do try and play football the right way, and on this surface it’s hard to play bad. The football was good in the first half but we’re disappointed that we let them in the game in the second half.”

Woodnesborough reserves (blue) double up against Bocca Juniors in the DFDS Junior Cup C Final. Picture: Ian Scammell/PSP Images

It took just four minutes for Prior to make his mark, turning the ball home at the far post after Ryan Prior’s excellent left-wing cross.

Levii Loyza nearly added a second just a minute later, twisting and turning the defender after Woodnesborough gave the ball away cheaply before dragging a right-foot shot inches wide from the edge of the area.

Goalmouth action as Woodnesborough reserves keeper Jordan Wings is put under pressure by Bocca Juniors. Picture: Ian Scammell/PSP Images

The impressive Connor Gower then cut in from the left, along the byline, only to be denied by keeper Jordan Wing.

It was no surprise when player-of-the-match Alfie Prior added his second. Jamal James won the ball on halfway and strode forward before feeding Ryan Prior, who played in Alfie Prior. His dummy grounded keeper Wing, allowing him to poke home into the bottom corner.

Alfie Prior scores his second goal for Bocca Juniors against Woodnesborough reserves. Picture: Ian Scammell/PSP Images

Such was Bocca’s dominance, they should have had the game wrapped up by the half-hour as Ryan Carter was denied first by the excellent Wing and then by the woodwork, before another advance from defence by James saw him set up Loyza to cross for Gower, who was denied by a stunning one-handed save.

Woodnesborough should have pulled one back on 48 minutes but somehow two players at the far post were unable to turn the ball in after a free-kick was headed back across goal.

Keeper Kenny Denton denied Robson Hulks but he was not to be denied and ran through before slotting home to give Woodnesborough hope on 57 minutes.

Woodnesborough reserves (blue) and Bocca Juniors go head to head at the Gallagher Stadium. Picture: Ian Scammell/PSP Images

Although Bocca lost their way, there were few clear-cut chances at either end. Woodnesborough, lifted by seven minutes of stoppage time being indicated, nearly pulled level when Scott Lisle’s left-wing corner had to be cleared off the line at the near post.

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Referee Samuel Girt kept his cards in his pocket until deep into injury time when he had to caution Bocca’s Alex Weaver for a late lunge.

Woodnesborough reserves – beaten by Bocca Juniors in the DFDS Junior Cup C Final. Picture: Ian Scammell/PSP Images

Woodnesborough reserves: Jordan Wing, Ryan Norris, Brad Thorpe, Liam Byford, Liam Harding, Charlie Harding, Dan Broughton, Luke Harris, Dan Brown, Robson Hulks, Scott Lisle, Hayden Richards, Tommy Armstrong, Adam Dudfield, Shaun Gibson, Zak Richards.

Bocca Juniors: Kenny Denton, Danny Christian, Ryan Prior, Alex Weaver, Jamal James, Bekim Ahmetaj, Connor Gower, Levii Loyza, Ryan Carter, Shqipron Ahmetaj, Alfie Prior, Harry Mullen, Cameron Lumsden, Miles Christian, Charlie Page, Josh Ahmad.

Referee: Samuel Girt.

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