Maidstone bounced back from cup final heartache just three days earlier to win the Kent Merit Under-14 Boys Cup Final.

A goal down inside two minutes at Sheppey’s windswept Holm Park on Sunday, the Stones responded in style to run out comfortable and deserved winners.

“We lost the cup final on Thursday, 2-1 to Welling who scored in the last 10 seconds of extra-time, so we’re really proud of the group’s mentality and how they’ve come back from it,” said manager Roy Massey.

“We deserved it and I think we did well. We were two-nil down in the semi-final and got back to go through on penalties.

“Bromley gave us a good game but having gone a goal down we’re proud to win it. We kept the ball moving and got the win, scoring some nice goals.”

Bromley went ahead when Macauley Clouter’s effort ricocheted up and took a fierce spin, combined with the wind, to beat the defender on the line.

Maidstone looked certain to equalise on seven minutes when a left-wing cross found Mohtady Kuall at the far post but his low effort was brilliantly saved by the legs of keeper George Martin.

Kuall then fizzed a cross low towards the near post but Martin was there to bravely push it away to safety.

The equaliser was coming and it arrived on 15 minutes when Bromley failed to clear and Jesse Harber produced a composed finish inside the penalty area.

Harber then fed Finley Corby but he fired over from 12 yards before Bromley looked to reply, the impressive Dylan Mercer drove forward and Clouter dragged his effort wide of the upright.

Man-of-the-match Corby was booked for simulation after he went to ground having gone round the keeper but he had a more positive impact two minutes later, heading Maidstone in front on the stroke of half-time.

Maidstone defenders Bobby Aston and Ernie Sawer were excellent at the back. Aston drove forward early in the second half and his long-range shot was turned behind for a corner.

It was 3-1 on 48 minutes when Sawer set up Corby to turn the ball in from close range.

Bromley were nearly gifted a way back into the contest when a backpass sold keeper Ryan Murphy short but he raced out of his area and brilliantly tackled Clouter to deny him a clear run on goal.

Corby twice went close to completing his hat-trick at the other end and Harber’s lob went wide before Maidstone added a fourth goal in stoppage time when Joshua Newstead’s cross was turned in by Luca Basso.

Maidstone: Ryan Murphy, Albie Curtis-Tooze, Bobby Aston, Ernie Sawer, Elkan Agyei, Zachery Massey, Sammy Railton, Luca Basso, Mohtady Kuall, Joshua Newstead, Jesse Harber, Aidan McMahon, Freddie Gibson, Finley Corby.

Bromley: George Martin, Bryon Merritt, Ollie Cleveland, James Carr, Clark Rae, Fin Hunter, Dylan Mercer, Freddie Dixon, Macaulay Clouter, Ollie Manchip, Henry Mitchell, Spencer Johnson, Victor Ginguad, Harry Washington, Gavan Chauhan, Harry Dorling.

Referee: Ethan Cole.