An entertaining and keenly fought Kent Merit Under-15 Boys Plate Final saw Ebbsfleet get the better of Rochester on Sunday.

There were eight goals as Rochester twice came from behind to level matters at Sheppey’s Holm Park before Ebbsfleet showed their quality in the final stages.

Ebbsfleet manager Joe Balsom said: “I’m very pleased with the win, it was a tough game that could have gone either way but we battled hard and got the result in the end.

“The whole squad make the team, not just the 11 on the pitch at any one time, and they all helped to make a difference in the end.

“It’s nice to score five goals so I’m very pleased with that. I couldn’t do it without my coaches Rob Hicks and Anthony Ahearn.”

Ebbsfleet sit top of their league and with another cup final to come in May, they could yet end the season with a treble.

Corey Smith, moments after heading wide from a Callum Hicks cross, put Ebbsfleet ahead on four minutes when he capitalised on a defensive mistake as Rochester tried to play out from the back.

Billy Murray then played in Mohid Khan for Ebbsfleet but his low shot was saved by Rochester keeper Albie Kavanagh. A ball over the top then sent Murray clear but his low drive came back off the post.

Five minutes before half-time Rochester levelled the scores when Dominic Shann blasted home the equaliser.

But their joy was short-lived as the Fleet regained the lead within two minutes, Luke Ellis’ dangerous right-wing cross was fumbled by the keeper and Smith reacted quickest to turn the ball home.

Smith should have had his hat-trick before half-time as his low shot was saved by the legs of Kavanagh before the keeper did well to turn his close-range header past the post.

Ebbsfleet had a goal disallowed early in the second half and Rochester took their opportunity to get back into the contest. George Spragg’s free-kick was never cleared and the ball eventually fell to Paul Areola to fire home on 57 minutes.

Max Butteriss’ shot went just over the bar and another excellent Ellis cross somehow missed everyone in the six-yard box as Ebbsfleet looked to regain the lead.

They did so with 12 minutes left when a corner was turned at close range by Freddie Benneworth.

Hicks got forward at will from right-back and must have pushed player-of-the-match Smith close for honours. On 74 minutes, Hicks’ cross was not dealt with by Rochester and the excellent Khan was on hand to make it 4-2.

Fabian Odamo was on the scoresheet three minutes into stoppages when he capitalised on a misplaced clearance by Kavanagh to add a fifth goal.

There was still time for Rochester to pull a goal back when Shann bagged his second but Ebbsfleet were not to be denied.

Rochester United: Albie Kavanagh, Paul Areola, Charlie Curran, Frankie Francis, George Poole, Harrell Wiggle, Olutemide Ojo, Jack Sidders, Dominic Shann, Harry Slade, George Spragg, Alfred Hibbert, Jak Koleowo, Oscar Taylor, Olami Olatunji.

Ebbsfleet United: Sam Rosling, Callum Hicks, Ashton Dee, Edward Russell, Tyresse Ahern, Mohid Khan, Luke Ellis, Rhys Ingram, Corey Smith, Billy Balsom, Billy Murray, Vinnie Deadman, Freddie Benneworth, Max Butteriss, Fabian Odamo, Kacper Dabrowski.

Referee: Haniel Whitmore.