Kent Junior C Cup Final match report: Streatham 3 Dover Rangers 2

An entertaining five-goal Kent Junior C Cup Final went the way of Streatham against Dover Rangers at Chatham’s Bauvill Stadium on Saturday.

In a showdown which included two quickfire double salvos, man-of-the-match Mohamed Abdi-Gani got the vital winning goal for Streatham.

“This is our first major trophy as a club,” revealed Hussein Hussein, manager of the Surrey South Eastern Combination junior Division 2 side.

“I can only thank my players and my staff for all the work that goes on behind the scenes, as well as the work from our sponsors and the councils. We have our councillor from Streatham, Martin Abrams, here.

“These boys go through a lot. To get a moment of exposure like this, that’s a huge honour.

“I’m very grateful to the Kent FA, our opposition (Dover Rangers) - who made it even more special - and I just cannot put what I feel into words.

“I’m just ecstatic for my boys.”

Runaway Canterbury & District Saturday League Division 1 champions Dover Rangers, who beat Minster 1911 (2-1), the University of Kent Monument (2-1), Average Joe’s FC (5-1) and rivals Deal Town Rangers (2-1) to reach this stage, created the first opening. Scott Rayner drilled across goal in the third minute.

Five minutes later, goalkeeper Luke Hudson was out quickly to head clear before Streatham’s Radwan Ali could get the ball under his spell.

Streatham continued to grow into the match as Hudson again thwarted Ali, the same player missed the target and then Rangers’ keeper produced a superb fingertip save from captain Abdihakim Ali’s 23rd-minute free-kick.

Hussein’s team did go ahead three minutes later, though.

Abdi-Gani sent Hudson the wrong way with the penalty he had won for a foul given by referee Michael Dye as Streatham’s top scorer was challenged by Dover player Owen Crascall.

Jason Fisher’s side pushed for a first-half equaliser - Reece Brandy and Keiton Bunting going close - but Streatham had their noses in front at the break.

Dover Rangers had a goal ruled out early in the second period, Rayner netting before he was controversially adjudged offside when it appeared that it was one of Rayner’s team-mates - and not him - in an illegal position.

But having remained in the contest against the team who had seen off Dartford Celtics Reserves (3-0), Bexley (3-0), Anchorians Academicals (11-3) and Royal Saints Blue (4-1), Rangers levelled the scores shortly after the hour mark following an inspired substitution.

Brad Wilkins was able to head beyond Streatham keeper Fahad Hassan from a Rayner corner.

And three minutes later, Dover went ahead as Brylee Darcy swept home Brandy’s cross after a flowing move to make it 2-1.

Streatham boss Hussein admitted: “Dover Rangers were absolutely a tough team for us to face.

“They’ve certainly been one of the best we have played across all the rounds to get to this stage.

“They put up a good fight. They defended really well in the first half.

“We should have taken our chances, we should have scored more goals, but that wasn’t to be.

“So, that gave them a bit more confidence.”

That appeared likely to be the way the game ended as Streatham initially continued to struggle to respond - until they did emphatically - in the final 10 minutes.

With Hudson in Dover’s goal struggling, substitute Mohammed Abdul-Kadir blasted past him to level it up once more.

Two minutes later, the Final was totally flipped on its head for a second time when Abdi-Gani got his second goal and it proved to be the all-important one for his side.

Hussein said: “It’s no coincidence that our man-of-the-match is our highest scorer this season.

“He’s on 48 goals for the season.

“The only thing that was missing for him was a winners’ medal with us and it’s the first of many.”

A marathon 10 minutes of second-half stoppage time were navigated safely by Streatham to seal their victory in front of their travelling fans and spark jubilant scenes.

“To many, they look like fans - but this is how large our club is,” said Hussein.

“They’re the many beneficiaries of our charity initiatives and they’re brothers. Some of them were not fortunate enough to make the selection for the matchday 16 squad.

“But they are still all my players, they are still all my boys and they are working very hard to get moments like this.

“This is the first of many. We have had many slightly sour moments this season, where we’ve lost penalty shootouts in semi-finals and other times like that.

“This one makes all our hard work worth it.”

Hussein, whose troops respectfully and spontaneously gave Dover Rangers a guard of honour at the end-of-game presentation, before their opponents returned the favour, revealed his troops will be heading abroad on a pre-season tour ahead of the 2024/25 season.

“These boys are off to Canada for a pre-season tour,” he added.

“It’s another tournament that we have been invited to take part in by our embassy. We are British - but, equally, we have Somali heritage.

“Over here today was our national team coach and scouts.

“Some of these players might be fortunate enough to be selected for Africa Nation Qualifiers. We’re off (to Canada) on July 2 and we should be back on July 16.

“It’ll be a fascinating time.”

Dover Rangers: Hudson, J.Scrivener (Wilkins 55mins), Potter (Crascall 90mins), Sewell, Bunting (Brandy 80mins), Piragis, Cassengina, Brandy (Fisher 68mins), Mwamba (T.Scrivener 44mins) Rayner, Darcy (Gilbert 74mins).

Streatham: F.Hassan, Gacal, Farid, Maesho, Ali, Warsame (H.Hassan90mins), H.Hassan (Kadir 60mins), Tesfay, Ahmed, Abdi-Gain, Ali (B.Yare 90mins). Subs not used: A.Yare, M.Hassan, Adan.