Final Decided By Penalties

Platt Utd 'A'   3       Shoreham Utd Res.   3 (aet)         Report courtesy of Derek Hodge.

(Platt won 4-3 on penalties)

Platt United 'A' won the Smith's Charity (Junior) Cup at Hale Lane, Otford, last Thursday night after a penalty shoot-out against Shoreham United Reserves to complete a trophy treble.

The scores were level at 3-3 after extra-time had failed to produce a winner.

The goal scoring prowess of Shoreham's Dave Robbins and veteran Trevor Brooker deserted them as both players missed their spot kicks enabling the Mid-Kent side to win 4-3 on penalties, to complete the treble having already won the Division Three title and Fisher Shield.

Shoreham took the lead on 15 minutes when good work by Martin Prior and Lee Edwards opened the way for Matthew Leach to score. At this point Shoreham were having the better of the exchanges and could easily have increased their lead but Jason Rose and Prior wasted good chances.

Leach and the Platt goalkeeper collided when went for the ball and both players needed extensive treatment before they were able to continue. Leach was later substituted to be replaced by Danny Parker.

Both goalmouths had near misses with Platt's Gary Piper and Brooker just off target. Piper levelled in the second-half, slotting the ball under keeper Steve Norris and then soon afterwards the same player put his side ahead with a low shot.

Shoreham got back on level terms when Rose curled a tremendous 25-yard free-kick round the wall and beyond the reach of the helpless Platt Keeper.

There were two further goals in extra-time, one for each side including Shoreham's strike which came through a glancing header by Edwards at the near post from a free-kick by Tony Harbour. With the scores still level after 120 minutes the deadlock was finally broken by the penalty shoot-out.