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Not content with scoring one wonder goal, Eastern Athletic promptly scored four stunners on their way to an extra-time DFDS Kent Sunday Junior Cup Final win at Maidstone on Sunday.
The standard was set after Dan Rumbol’s second-minute opener, and the Isle of Sheppey-based team eventually prevailed in the additional half-hour of an enthralling affair.
Eastern Athletic manager Dan Merritt said: “We’ve got a little phrase at our club and that’s there’s only one way to do it and that’s the Eastern way - and that is always the hard way!
“They fully deserved it. They’ve put loads of effort in throughout the season, we’ve had some brilliant ties in this competition and we’re really proud to have won it.
“This team is never down and out. We’ve got quality throughout the team.
“Once we went two goals ahead in extra-time I felt a little bit more comfortable.
“We’ve only been running a few years, we’ve only entered this competition once and now we’ve won it!”
Player-of-the-match Rumbol scored from at least 35 yards to give Eastern an early advantage, given plenty of room he needed no second invitation to unleash a dipping and swerving blockbuster that beat keeper Matt Clark.
Cliffe Woods should have levelled immediately but Joe Simpson volleyed over after Ozan Hassan was denied by keeper Mitchell Ware.
But it mattered little as they equalised on 10 minutes, Hassan collecting a perfectly-weighted through ball and rounding the advancing Ware before slotting into an empty net.
Cliffe Woods went ahead nine minutes before half-time, the ball falling kindly for Hassan on the edge of the area after his first shot was blocked, as he arrowed home a low drive.
Eastern went close through Jack Perry and Mark Hornsby but needed something special to level the scores up, and it arrived midway through the second half.
There appeared to be little danger as Rumbol played the ball back to Harry Hornsby but he switched the ball onto his left foot before curling home a 30-yard shot that Clark didn’t get close to.
Cliffe Woods had the best chance in normal time. They appeared to had lost their way but a lovely flowing move saw a first-time right-wing cross volleyed wide by the unmarked Jason Harrison.
The challenges continued to fly in from both sides but it was a fair game, excellently officiated by Mitchell Jukes.
Eastern needed just four minutes of extra-time to go ahead. Tom Carlton lined up a free-kick wide on angle of the penalty area, and fizzed in a low drive that went in via the far post.
With Cliffe Woods heads down, Eastern quickly added a fourth - Ricky Hornsby heading in from close range.
Cliffe Woods regrouped for the second period of extra-time and could have levelled as Bobby Noye, Ben McManus and Ashley Poppy all went close in a three-minute spell.
But another wonderful strike from Harry Hornsby settled any nerves in the 112th minute, despite Ryan Sokolov’s persistence being rewarded with a consolation three minutes from time at the other end.
Cliffe Woods Colts: Matt Clark, Dan Hardy, Matt Foster, Adam Bush, Dean Hughes, Ryan Sokolov, Jason Harrison, Ozan Hassan, Robbie Summerhayes, Joe Simpson, Ashley Poppy, Joe Reynolds, Aaron Chiles, Ben McManus, Scott Potter, Bobby Noye.
Eastern Athletic: Mitchell Ware, Shane Clarabut, Jake Rumbol, Fred Rumbol, Jack Perry, Dan Rumbol, Tyler Deebank, Harry Hornsby, Tom Carlton, Ricky Hornsby, Cameron Smith, Ollie Selfe, Joe Rumbol, Olly Fry, Mark Hornsby, Jayke Philips.
Referee: Mitchell Jukes.