Kiyamyng McPherson’s hat-trick and a goal-of-the-season contender by Ruby Foames helped Cray Wanderers cruise past Foots Cray Lions in the Kent Merit under-15 girls’ Cup Final on Sunday.

Two-goal Libby Keeler and Chloe Boys were also on target as it ended 7-0 to Wands at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium.

Cray Wanderers manager Danny Stanton said: “It’s the third year in a row that we have won the Kent Cup.

“We won the London Cup a couple of weeks ago, so to add the Kent Cup - again - that’s fantastic.

“Once we settled down and we had got 2-0 or 3-0 up, we just started to knock the ball around at the back, getting the wingers and forwards involved a bit more.”

There had been little to choose between the sides when they met in last term’s Kent Cup under-14s final, Cray edging to a 2-1 victory, but they went ahead inside a minute this time at the same venue.

Keeler closed down an attempted clearance by Foots Cray goalkeeper Imogen Scott before the forward stroked into the empty net to give them the perfect platform.

Five minutes later, the lively McPherson got his first sighting of goal, firing Boys’ pass inches wide of Scott’s left-hand post.

Cray already were firmly in the ascendancy and only a brave 15th-minute header from defender Jessie Vale prevented them getting another chance as Foots Cray cleared.

Midway through the first period, Manel Newman had Foots Cray’s first effort on goal, only for Cray keeper Maisie Pitt to comfortably save the long-range shot.

Mofi Adepoju played in McPherson to strike the post at the other end.

But she made no mistake just a minute later as McPherson cut in off the left flank, and drilled low and hard into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 to Cray with 28 minutes played.

Lexie Curtis had Foots Cray’s next opportunity just after the half-hour mark, with the midfielder’s header lacking enough power to seriously trouble Pitt.

Five minutes into the second half, Evie McTernan came as close as Foots Cray, who had seen off Hoo Veterans Youth, Bearsted and Aylesford on their way to the final, would come to getting on the scoresheet.

Her right-wing delivery flew over Pitt, but none of her team-mates were able to get a vital final touch on the cross in lovely April sunshine.

Cray added their third on 55 minutes when Boys found the net.

Keeler crossed to McPherson and, while Scott saved the initial shot, Boys was not to be denied with a cool finish.

And just two minutes later, Cray added a fourth when McPherson struck after a through ball had neatly been played through from the right.

McPherson was now turning on the style. She beat five Foots Cray Lions defenders in the 66th minute before she dragged her strike wide of Scott’s right-hand post.

But free-scoring Cray, conquerors of Tunbridge Wells Foresters, Anchorians Diamonds and Kings Hill Hurricanes on their way to the final, did add a fifth with 16 minutes to play when Keeler turned down the chance to pass to an unmarked McPherson and drilled home herself.

The pick of Cray’s goals then came, though, as Foames cut in off the left wing and thumped a spectacular strike from the best part of 30 yards out over Scott to find the net.

Following the strike, Foames collapsed to the floor in disbelief - before promptly being mobbed by her team-mates.

“Unbelievable,” Stanton said of Foames’ goal. “We’re mainly under-14s, playing up a year, and Rubs is one of the young under-14s. But she just comes on and scores goals - although I’ve not seen her score goals like that before!

“Obviously, she was great.

“It was an unbelievable strike. She just said to me that, once she had scored, she felt like she had almost manifested it and she was going to start crying!

“It’s great. It means a lot to them and I’m happy.”

McPherson then rounded it off in style when she completed her hat-trick to make it 7-0 to the Wands.

Stanton, whose team incredibly still remain in contention for four trophies this term, said: “Myng has been amazing.

“Unbelievably, this is the first year that she has played football. Kiyamyng has been fantastic for us so I’m pleased she got a hat-trick.

“I’m pleased Libby got a couple, as well.”

Cray Wanders: Pitt, Smith, Harkin, Davis, Miller, Adepoju, Boys, Day, McPherson, Keeler, Baxter. Subs: Tassell, Foames, Pantony, Griffiths, Hgai.

Foots Cray Lions: Scott, Alexander, Garner, Newman, Spellman, Vale, Young, Eagles, Gillett, Curtis, McTernan. Subs: Davis, Odlum, Marchant.

Referee: Jack Matthews.