Three goals in 11 first-half minutes proved decisive as Petts Wood beat Welling United in the Merit Under-14 Girls Cup final.

An end-to-end start at the Gallagher Stadium suggested the tie could go either way, with both sides looking sharp in attack.

But goals from Fiorella Palomino, player-of-the-match Freya Jackson and Sofia Jex put Petts Wood in charge before a deserved consolation from Isabelle Brooker near the end.

“It was stressful because you just never know how it’s going to go in a cup game,” said Petts Wood manager Anthony Percy.

“But I was confident the girls were going to deliver and I’m happy they did.

“Welling gave us a great battle.

“We did really well in the first half and ultimately put the game to bed but Welling scared us in the second half and made us a little bit worried towards the end.

“We’ve only lost once in the league this season, which was against Lordswood in the first match, and we’ve drawn with Welling, so it felt like we needed to win today.

“We’ve still got three or four league games to go and one of them is against Welling, so we meet again in the next few weeks.

“But this is a cup final and ultimately we managed to be on the right side of the win this time.”

Petts Wood keeper Paloma Morrison was sharply off her line to deny Welling an early opener after Brooker played in Florence Hicks, a tireless runner up front all afternoon.

Erinayo Kalejaiye impressed in midfield for the Wings, strong on the ball and with an eye for a pass.

But Petts Wood got on top and broke the deadlock in the 13th minute after the excellent Jackson’s attempted lob was palmed away for a corner by D’Arcy Billington.

Jackson, impressive on the right of a front three, took the corner and Palomino was alert to finish from close range.

Morrison was quickly off her line again as Hicks threatened a quick response from Anna Harder’s pass.

But Petts Wood doubled their lead in the 19th minute when Sofia Jex won the ball in midfield and played a lovely pass into the path of Jackson, who finished confidently.

Billington pulled off a brilliant point-blank save when Jex met a cross from Jackson, somehow pushing the ball over the bar.

Jex did get on the scoresheet soon after, though, finishing across Billington after a good run in the 24th minute.

There was a blow for Welling before half-time when captain Tallulah Ward was carried off following a delay of several minutes. Later, she would hop to collect her runners-up medal.

Petts Wood substitute Sofia Manna threatened in the second half but Welling, with the runs of Brooker, weren’t giving up and got on the scoresheet with eight minutes remaining.

Brooker started and finished the move, getting herself in the box to finish the rebound after Sadie Clinton’s strike, after a good run, was saved by skipper Morrison.

Petts Wood: Paloma Morrison, Ruby Gold, Molly Durham, Grace Percy, Libby Pretorious, Olivia May, Freya Jackson, Fiorella Palomino, Caliyah Byfield, Martha Magee. Subs: Lilly Lewis, Jeannie Playfoot Leyla Manna, Sofia Manna.

Welling United: D’Arcy Billington, Hyla Tren, Tallulah Ward, Sadie Clinton, Isabelle Brooker, Anna Harder, Florence Hicks, Matilda Sargent, Erinayo Kalejaiye, India Leeves, Melinda Maccallini. Subs: Ellie Morallee, Ella Fernandes, Grace Aka.

Referee: Scarlett Mander-McGregor.