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Chatham Town's Michael Hagan ecstatic to score the goal which won the Kent Senior Trophy

07:32, 16 April 2019

updated: 07:53, 16 April 2019

Chatham's Michael Hagan has described the moment he scored the winning goal in his first senior cup final.

The youngster came off the bench during the second half of Sunday's Kent Senior Trophy final against Beckenham Town with the match goalless.

And Hagan was the Chats' hero in extra time as he got on the end of Matt Bodkin's right-wing cross to fire the ball home.

Michael Hagen scores the winning goal Picture: Steve Crispe
Michael Hagen scores the winning goal Picture: Steve Crispe

He said: "The ball goes down the line, Matt Bodkin running onto it and the second he’s got the ball I’m thinking ‘I’ve got to make it to the box’.

"Vinesy (Paul Vines) was trying to make it there but I had to bust a gut to get there, being the fresher player.

"As the ball came over, me and the right-back both tried to get to the ball, he’s had a block originally and luckily the ball’s fallen so kindly for me to hammer home – and then lose it!

"It’s pure happiness. I’m ecstatic. It’s my first final in senior football and I’m over the moon.

"It was thoroughly deserved, I felt we dominated the game.

"Fair play to Beckenham, they put up a big fight and were unlucky to get a goal disallowed as well so it’s mixed emotions but I’m so happy."

Michael Hagen celebrates with his team-mates Picture: Steve Crispe
Michael Hagen celebrates with his team-mates Picture: Steve Crispe

This was Chatham's first cup final for 20 years so was Hagan disappointed to be left out initially?

"Not at all," he said. "There are a lot more experienced players in the side so while any player’s going to be disappointed not to start, you watch and you wait for your moment.

"You pick out different things you can do when you come on and make sure you do it. I’m just happy I got the chance.

"If you come on in a game, especially in a final, you can’t come on and hide. You’ve got to come into the game and want to make a difference otherwise there’s no point making the substitution.

"You’ve got to take a chance when it comes. They’re always going to happen in football.

"No matter how many times Beckenham were coming at us, you just know you’re going to get a chance and it’s just making sure that when it does come, you take it and luckily for me I did."

Michael Hagan celebrates with the Chatham fans Picture: Steve Crispe
Michael Hagan celebrates with the Chatham fans Picture: Steve Crispe

Hagan and his team-mates went straight over to celebrate with the Chatham supporters after the game.

He said: "It’s been 20 long years for this club. It’s a club that deserves to be up there, deserves to be winning silverware and the numbers we had there, the support is monumental. It means a lot more for the club to win such a trophy.

"Those fans played a massive part. It felt like everyone in the stands was supporting Chatham.

"Every time there was a counter-attack, they were getting behind us, singing their songs, so they were the 12th man.

"It’s a privilege to be playing for a club like Chatham with the supporters we have."

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