Bromley U14 1 vs 2 Maidstone United KYL U14

Maidstone United KYL U14 travelled to Holm Park on 22 March 2026 for a keenly contested Kent County Cup final against Bromley U14, kicking off at 1:00pm. The 80-minute encounter saw Maidstone emerge victorious with a 2-1 scoreline, securing a hard-fought win in front of 200+ spectators to emerge as Kent County Cup Winners!

Maidstone lined up in a 3-1-4-2 formation, deploying three defenders at the back with a single holding midfielder shielding the defence. Harvey Rostron took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper. The defensive trio consisted of Eddie Ambrose at right defender, Danny Lowe centrally, and Liam Rich on the left. Bertie Hayward operated as the central midfielder just ahead of the back three, tasked with breaking up play and distributing the ball. Ahead of him, the midfield four featured Blake Vince on the right attacking midfield, Tosan Okomi and Bernie Farley centrally as attacking midfielders, and Max Carney on the left attacking midfield. Up front, the strike partnership was formed by Zaph Kouassi on the right and Sawyer Booth on the left. The substitutes available were Tommy Monaghan, Rylee Rodgers, Tank Evans, Harrison Smith, and Zane Clements.

From the outset, Maidstone showed defensive solidity and intent. Bernie Farley made an early headed clearance in the first minute, quickly followed by a crucial block from Zaph Kouassi at the second minute to deny Bromley a chance. Eddie Ambrose was equally industrious, executing a timely tackle in the third minute, while Liam Rich cleared danger at the left side shortly after. Danny Lowe’s first attempt at goal came in the fifth minute but went wide, signalling Maidstone’s attacking ambitions.

Blake Vince intercepted possession in the sixth minute and immediately launched a long pass that created a chance, which Zaph Kouassi tried to convert but was denied by a save. Bernie Farley then delivered a long pass in the eighth minute, helping maintain Maidstone’s attacking rhythm. Defensively, Eddie Ambrose and Danny Lowe combined well with headers and tackles to repel Bromley’s advances, while goalkeeper Harvey Rostron punched clear a dangerous ball in the ninth minute.

The defensive resilience continued with Bertie Hayward and Liam Rich both winning headers and making clearances in quick succession. Eddie Ambrose was again prominent with a header and clearance in the 11th minute. Liam Rich’s long pass at the 13th minute set the stage for Max Carney, who also played a long pass that led to Maidstone’s opening goal. At 14 minutes, Zaph Kouassi confidently converted a penalty with his right foot, assisted by Max Carney, giving Maidstone an early lead.

Maidstone’s defensive discipline was evident as Zaph Kouassi and Danny Lowe made crucial tackles and clearances between the 15th and 20th minutes, with Eddie Ambrose and Liam Rich also contributing headers and clearances to keep Bromley at bay. The team’s defensive unit worked tirelessly, with Max Carney and Tosan Okomi adding interceptions and headers to the collective effort.

Liam Rich’s slide rule pass at the 16th minute and subsequent interceptions and tackles throughout the first half demonstrated his commanding presence on the left flank. The midfield and defence combined well to maintain control, with multiple clearances and headers from Danny Lowe, Eddie Ambrose, and Liam Rich between the 18th and 30th minutes. Blake Vince and Max Carney also contributed defensively with headers, ensuring Maidstone’s shape remained intact.

As the first half drew to a close, Max Carney’s slide rule pass at 34 minutes was one of the final attacking moves before the whistle. The half ended with Maidstone leading 1-0, but Liam Rich was shown a yellow card at the 35th minute for an unspecified reason.

The second half saw a flurry of substitutions at the 41st minute, with Zane Clements, Tank Evans, Harrison Smith, Tommy Monaghan, and Rylee Rodgers all introduced, replacing Blake Vince, Bertie Hayward, Bernie Farley, Max Carney, and Sawyer Booth respectively. This fresh injection of energy was immediately felt as Zane Clements and Harrison Smith combined with long and slide rule passes to keep Maidstone’s attacking momentum alive.

Defensively, the new players quickly settled in. Zaph Kouassi and Harrison Smith made important tackles in the 43rd minute, while Tommy Monaghan contributed interceptions and tackles in the 45th and 47th minutes. Liam Rich continued to assert himself with headers and clearances, notably at the 49th and 51st minutes, where his slide rule pass helped create further chances.

Eddie Ambrose’s interception and slide rule pass at the 52nd minute, followed by Tosan Okomi’s flick pass at 54 minutes, kept Maidstone’s attacking play fluid. Zane Clements and Eddie Ambrose also made key defensive contributions with clearances and headers during this period.

At 57 minutes, Zaph Kouassi received a yellow card, but moments later, Liam Rich rose highest to head home a cross from Tommy Monaghan, doubling Maidstone’s lead and providing a crucial cushion. Maidstone’s defence remained resolute, with Danny Lowe and Eddie Ambrose clearing danger in the following minutes.

Bromley pulled a goal back at 61 minutes, reducing the deficit and setting up a tense finale. Maidstone responded with attempts from Zaph Kouassi and Rylee Rodgers, though both efforts were either saved or went high. Defensive clearances from Danny Lowe and tackles from Liam Rich and Zaph Kouassi ensured Maidstone held firm.

Liam Rich continued to orchestrate play with long passes and crucial tackles between the 65th and 73rd minutes, while Tosan Okomi’s interceptions and tackles further frustrated Bromley’s advances. Harrison Smith and Zane Clements also contributed key passes and defensive clearances in the closing stages.

In the final moments, Tommy Monaghan and Tank Evans made important defensive interventions, with Harvey Rostron producing a vital save diving at the feet of an opponent in the 75th minute. Liam Rich and Danny Lowe combined with headers and clearances to repel late pressure, securing Maidstone’s narrow 2-1 victory.

Liam Rich’s commanding performance at left defender, combining defensive solidity with attacking support, earned him the player of the match accolade. Maidstone United KYL U14’s disciplined 3-1-4-2 setup and collective effort proved decisive in this tightly fought cup encounter at Holm Park.