Bromley 3 v 2 Gravesend & Northfleet (aet)

John Ullman Kent Senior Cup Final

For more pictures, click on Non-League Pictures

BROMLEY are champions of Kent after winning a thrilling Kent Senior Cup final against Nationwide Conference big boys Gravesend and Northfleet.

Supersub Simon Mitchell grabbed the decisive goal in extra-time after a topsy-turvy final of high drama and high emotions at Hayes Lane.

The match was the last at home for Bromley's management trio of George Wakeling, Frank Coles and Billy Smith and on the final whistle emotions ran wild as fans invaded the pitch to celebrate with them and the players.

Wakeling said: "It was a great evening for Bromley Football Club.

"We have a strong side with lots of character and we showed it, which gives me great satisfaction.

"The fans gave me presents and from the emails I have seen, they enjoyed it as much as I did."

The match was cagey at the start and gave no indication of the thrills, twists and turns to come.

Fleet's Danny Slatter had the first shot in anger on 16 minutes but his powerful low drive was comfortably saved by Andy Walker.

On 18 minutes the game exploded when Des Boateng's late challenge on Bradley Johnson caused a session of handbags involving a dozen players.

The outcome was a yellow card for Boateng's challenge as well as yellow for Johnson for retaliating.

Boateng was at the centre of the action again when Nic McDonnell's perfectly-weighted through ball presented the midfielder a low shot but Craig Holloway did superbly to force the ball wide of the post.

From the corner Holloway fell awkwardly and twisted his right knee.

While still hobbling and waiting to be substituted, he pulled off a great point-blank save to deny full back Tutu Henriques.

The Lillywhites continued to press and forced a second corner from which Mark Willy's header through a crowd of players found Donal O'Sullivan who was magnificent all match and he blasted home.

The Fleet bench were furious as they had been trying to get Holloway replaced before the corner but the linesman was making them wait.

Fleet boss Liam Daish was sent off for arguing his case too forcibly for the referee's liking and he spent the remainder of the match in the stands.

The half ended with Fleet on top with Luke Moore's free-kick being well saved and Johnson shooting over.

However, on 45 minutes Johnson found space in the penalty area and curled a sweet left-foot strike beyond Walker to level the scores at half-time.

Fleet began the second half on a mission with Slatter dancing into the penalty area only to fire over, Ross Smith just failing to connect to Johnson's cross and Moore heading over.

Ross Smith had a wonderful chance to put Fleet ahead but, having found space between the two centre backs, he could only head Steve McKimm's cross over the bar.

Bromley managed a break on 69 minutes and McDonnell should have done better than lose possession cheaply when Gary Drewett was in acres of space.

The match exploded into life again with 10 minutes remaining.

Fleet got the breakthrough after Johnson's corner was cleared by O'Sullivan only for Danny Slatter to return it with a 20-yard volley worthy of winning any cup final.

Showing great character the Ryman Premier Division side responded with substitute Simon Mitchell latching onto O'Sullivan's through ball.

However, as he rounded replacement Aaron Kerr, the keeper scooped the ball away superbly.

Two minutes later the scores were level when a free-kick was met by the unmarked McDonnell with a clean header from six yards.

Despite a close penalty shout for both sides, the match entered extra-time.

Wakeling said: "I was disappointed at half time because our performance meant we should have been well in control.

"I had expected us to be under the cosh because we had players who were not 100 per cent fit or were playing out of position.

"Tutu was playing full back rather than centre back, O'Sullivan was carrying a groin strain, McDonnell had an injury and Danny Carrol seized up on 90 minutes as he had not played many games. But they showed a lot of guts and all did brilliantly."

He added: "When we went 2-1 down I was thinking how disappointing it was because we had things to prove but then our character came through."

Extra-time will be remembered for two moments first, on 92 minutes, when Adrian Stone split the tiring Fleet defence with a perfect pass for Mitchell to run on to and slip under the advancing Kerr.

Second, with minutes remaining, an extraordinary lax in concentration by Walker in the Bromley goal almost sent the match to penalties.

His clearance hit the back of Moore and rebounded towards the goal line with Walker scrambling to clear.

He scooped the ball off the line, saved from the advancing Moore and saved again at the feet of Jack Roberts.

The double-save was greeted like it was a goal and as the Fleet players dropped to the ground in despair, it was clear they were beaten even with a few minutes remaining.

Wakeling said: "After going ahead in extra-time we got behind the ball and made life difficult from them."

He added: "Someone said we deserved Walker's save and it did make me think our name was on the cup."

MATCH FACTS: BROMLEY: Walker, 9; Henriques, 7; Luckett, 7; O'Sullivan, 9 (Vines, 118); Willy, 8; Carroll, 7 (Greenway, 90); Drewett, 7 (Mitchell, 82); Boateng, 7; Stone, 7; McDonnell, 7; Wood, 7.

SUBS NOT USED: Murphy; Gardner.

ATT: 1,041.