Maidstone United deservedly triumphed in an excellent Kent Merit Under-14 Boys Cup Final at Holm Park on Sunday.

Opponents Faversham Town staged a late rally and almost forced a penalty shoot-out but the Stones were not to be denied.

Joint-manager Ralph Valerio said: “We’re so proud of the boys. It’s been a long journey for them and they’ve worked so hard. They’ve had ups and downs and this is a massive up, they deserve it.

“Credit to Faversham, they gave us everything in the second half and we thought they were going to take us to penalties.

“In the first half we commanded the ball and worked hard for each other, in and out of possession. We’ve been working on that for months and to see it culminate in a trophy is really pleasing.

“It was a cracking goal and then we almost scored again right on half-time with a well-worked bit of play and a great save from the keeper.

“The free-kick for our second goal deserved to win any cup final, it was a brilliant strike.

“We’ve only lost once this season and we’re in the running for the title but I don’t care about that now, today’s about winning this cup so we’re going to enjoy that.”

Maidstone had an early scare when keeper George Etheridge’s clearance hit Faversham’s Taylor Handley but bounced wide of the vacant goal.

The breakthrough arrived on 32 minutes when Arthur Wilkin strode forward from left-back to hit a tremendous long-range strike beyond keeper Ronnie Richards.

Faversham missed a great chance to equalise when Kaelan Essel shot over after showing good footwork before Richards made a stunning save at the other end to deny Ronnie Ricketts a second Maidstone goal on the stroke of half-time.

The keeper could do nothing about Louis Drewett’s stunning free-kick that doubled Maidstone’s advantage on 44 minutes. Drewett stepped up and curled an unstoppable left-foot 20-yard shot into the top corner.

Maidstone were a well-drilled unit who passed the ball around nicely with player-of-the-match Olly Palmer a class act in defence.

Faversham turned up the pressure with Jake Hoggins’ first-time volley hitting the crossbar. Then a clever free-kick played in skipper Luca Valencia but his shot was diverted behind for a corner.

From the resulting 59th-minute corner, Faversham were back in the game as Harry Boddy headed in at the far post.

Etheridge turned away Robert Welling’s free-kick before Handley’s half-volley crashed against the woodwork as Faversham searched for an equaliser in the closing stages.

Faversham Town: Ronnie Richards, Liam Fay, Sam West, Harry Boddy, Charlie Harvey, Kaelan Essel, Robert Welling, Luca Valencia, Harrison Dare, Taylor Handley, Boluwatife Adibembi, Liam Mateer, AJ Clarke, Jake Hoggins, Leo Allen, Lukas Morford.

Maidstone United: George Etheridge, Olly Palmer, Oscar Valerio, Arthur Wilkin, Maddox Austin, Louis Drewett, Callum Bridges, Evan White, Ronnie Ricketts, Samuel Beaney, David Martins, Carvell Motosia, Josh Hammond, Joshua Iyoha, Aiden Hopkins, Josh Matthews.

Referee: Aidan Cooper.