It was certainly a case of practice makes perfect for Danson Sports when they won the Kent Merit Under-14 Plate final with a narrow victory over Cuxton 91 Warriors Blue.

They got on the road to victory from a fourth-minute corner as George Stiles’ delivery was hooked in by the unmarked Enzo Bia.

Manager Jamie Start revealed: “We’ve been practising corners all week so to score from one is unbelievable.

“We’ve conceded from plenty of corners this season so to score from one when we’ve been practising was gratifying.”

The goal capped a fast start by Danson, who could have been ahead inside the opening minute but for some excellent goalkeeping by Quinlan Mason, who saved bravely at the feet of Isiah Samuel, whose pace got him behind the defence.

Man-of-the-match Samuel matched his good pace with clever footwork and was a constant threat with his direct running throughout.

Cuxton gathered themselves and Connor Truelove shot wide from their first opening before they equalised on 18 minutes when Henry Gaston delivered an expert free-kick over the wall and beyond the reach of keeper Ethan Start.

Tyler Cooper then saw his long-range shot saved by Smart as Cuxton rallied but it was Danson who finished the half on top - and they were back ahead before the break.

Thomas Lockhart hit the top of the bar from distance before Danson scored two minutes into stoppage time. Stiles was again the provider, his expert through ball found the perfectly-timed run of Samuel, who finished beyond Mason.

In the second half Samuel twice fashioned opportunities that were brilliantly saved by Mason, who didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.

Cuxton almost levelled when Alfie Hagger took advantage of some defensive indecision but Start made a fine stop.

Harry Jackson had to clear off the line from Cuxton’s Max Miller as they again went close and in the second minute of stoppage time only an excellent save by Start prevented Jermiah Adedara Tawio taking the game to extra-time.

“Cuxton battled the whole time and there were times in the game that they dominated but our boys kept going and I’m over the moon,” added Start.

“When you have those chances and you don’t put them away, you think the footballing gods mean someone is going to snatch an equaliser for extra-time.

“When they were on us right at the end I thought they were going to score but we held on, defended well and I think in the end we deserved it.”

Cuxton: Quinlan Mason, Lily Bondeau, Connor Truelove, Dylan Stalley, Harry Gillingham, Evan Russell, Max Miller, Rhys Reid, Tyler Cooper, Jermiah Adedara Tawio, Henry Gaston, Samuel Creed, Alfie Hagger, Lenard Connor, George Hagger, Will Kennor.

Danson: Ethan Start, George Stiles, Thomas Lockhart, Bosko Lau, Parris Brockwell-Low, Luke Sargent, Harry Jackson, Isiah Samuel, Riley Haxell-Witter, Micha Bia, Harley Davies, Kyden Young, Florent Bonlong, Enzo Bia, Jazib Bashyidden, James Bence, Umari Sessay.

Referee: Samsul Hadi.