Herne Bay Youth needed extra-time before getting their hands on the trophy after a pulsating Kent Merit Under-16 Girls Cup Final.

Bay were two goals to the good before Bromley hit back, only for two clinical finishes to turn the contest back in Bay’s favour.

“I’m chuffed for the girls,” said Bay manager Ian Hills. “They’ve worked so hard all season.

“We narrowly missed out on a cup win last year so to get one over the line is amazing - we’re really proud of them.

“There were some good goals, we’ve always been able to do that. Going 2-0 up and then being pegged back for extra-time, to go again and get two more goals was amazing.”

An early indication of what was to follow came after 50 seconds when Bromley’s Sy’ria Thompson-Campbell turned past two players before forcing an early save from player-of-the-match Maggie Town in the Herne Bay goal.

Bravery was certainly near the top of Town’s qualities as she was out smartly to save at the feet of Jasmine Gouveia-Barnett early on.

Darcie Hills also stood out in defence for Bay while the silky skills of midfielder Lily Harris were a feature of their attacking play.

Thompson-Campbell was a livewire in attack for Bromley. But, having used her pace to get beyond the last defender, her low shot was kept out by the alert Town.

The breakthrough arrived on 26 minutes when there appeared no danger with a ball over the top of the Bromley defence. But Bay’s Drew-Marie Hogben ghosted in from the left and reached the ball ahead of keeper Kelsey Pink before slotting into an empty net.

The lead was doubled seven minutes later when the gifted Harris beat her marker out wide and then delivered an audacious right-foot finish from an acute angle into the far corner.

It was nearly 3-0 early in the second half but Hogben fired just wide of the upright after beating the offside trap.

Bromley reintroduced the excellent Thompson-Campbell and it was no surprise that she got her side back into the contest just past the hour mark as her persistence paid off and she fired low beyond the keeper.

Town then produced a couple of excellent saves - coupled with good handling - to keep out Thompson-Campbell’s rasping drive and Cozma’s long-range attempt.

Bromley’s persistence was rewarded three minutes from time when Thompson-Campbell used her pace and power to burst through and produce another composed finish.

It then needed a fine near-post save by Town to thwart Gouveia-Barnett in the final minute of normal time.

An excellent covering tackle by Hills denied Thompson-Campbell a clear run at the start of extra-time, a telling contribution as her team then went ahead moments later.

After a penalty appeal was turned down for Bay, they scored their third goal when Ffion Sharp scored from an acute angle.

The tie was wrapped up early in the second period of extra-time when good work down the left by Chloe McCann set up Kira Necker for a clinical far-post finish.

Bromley: Kesley Pink, Ashley Jhonnes Ramos, Abbie Sayers, Holly Davis, Caitlin Mythen, Jasmine Ryan-Long, Zoe Cozma, Isabelle Jewitt, Zara Parkin, Sy’ria Thompson-Campbell, Jasmine Gouveia-Barnett, Mia Collins, Dotty Blagden, Kelsi Newman.

Herne Bay Youth: Maggie Town, Drew-Marie Hogben, Grace Lane-Nicholls, Ivy Jones, Darcie Hills, Amelia James, Kira Necker, Lana Wiles, Lily Harris, Chloe McCann, Keira Lewis-Taggart, Ffion Sharp, Jess Richards, Tiffany Adby, Evie Pottinger-Neame.

Referee: Ruth Jackson.