Josh Sibley returned from injury to score the winner for Vinters Park in the Kent Merit Under-15 Plate final.

A knee tendon injury had kept striker Sibley sidelined for the past month but he showed plenty of composure as he twisted the Mustangs defence one way and then the other before firing low into the bottom corner.

“Josh has been out for the last four weeks,” explained Vinters boss Sam Lawrence.

“He’s made a recovery, he’s had an injury so has been struggling to run and move, but obviously not today!

“He took his time on the goal, it was a heart in the mouth moment as you wonder whether he is going to finish it and put it away - and luckily he did.”

Vinters were also indebted to goalkeeper Jay Blake’s second-half penalty save while skipper Ethan Foreman was outstanding at the heart of their defence.

A cagey start saw both teams keep plenty of players behind the ball, keen not to give too much away.

Sibley won the ball back on 22 minutes but shot wide of the near post from an angle while his shot after Yusef Ali Sen’s through ball lacked power and was cleared to safety.

Orpington’s Dominic Miller had a penalty appeal turned down when he tried to power his way through while Del Russell warmed the palms of keeper Blake from distance after cutting in down the left wing.

Sen beat two players before playing in Emil Boby but his cross-shot went wide of the far post for Vinters before Orpington’s Joshua Picton - another defensive player to impress - saw his overhead kick from a right-wing corner saved at the other end.

Chances were again at a premium after the break, but it was Orpington who appeared to be edging it - no more so than when they were awarded a 53rd-minute penalty.

Foreman tripped Miller in the box but the striker’s right-foot penalty lacked power and Blake was able to get down low to his right to make the save.

Vinters made them pay just two minutes later when man-of-the-match Sibley’s crisp finish put them ahead.

Carter Blake’s persistence down the right for Orpington fashioned a chance for Russell, whose effort went just over from the edge of the box.

Then Miller’s pace got him ahead of Foreman again but this time his right-foot finish went agonisingly wide of the far post.

Orpington lost the impressive Blake to a foot injury late on and Vinters kept their shape well in the closing stages to ensure they triumphed on the day.

Lawrence added: “It takes two teams to make a final and we got pushed all the way by Orpington. I thought the boys edged it and after the season we’ve had, they thoroughly deserve a nice ending like this.

“It’s been a great day, hats off to my goalkeeper as well who made a crucial save at a crucial time.”

Vinters: Jay Blake, Emil Boby, Charlie Bentley, Ethan Foreman, Oliver Lawrence, Ben Herron, Jack Servais, William Creigh, Josh Sibley, Henri Farmer, Leo Wilkins, Chris Barnett, Yusef Ali Sen, Charlie Wright, Ollie Dunk.

Orpington: Robert Connelly, Joshua Picton, Stanley Scowen, Giuseppe De Palma, Josiah Young, Zidane Zaman, Keiran Lochrane, Cormeagar Musa, Del Russell, Omarion Hunter, Joshua Grayson, Braydon Chapman, Dominic Miller, Carter Blake, Alexander Hines.

Referee: Louis Covington.