Two goals in six first-half minutes helped Hythe Athletic to DFDS Kent Sunday Junior Cup final glory.

They’d come under early pressure from opponents Yalding & Laddingford at the Gallagher Stadium on Sunday.

But Matt Biggs broke the deadlock from the penalty spot and Ethan Bradford added a quick second before Arthur Pickering secured victory with just under 20 minutes remaining.

“I’m really pleased with that result and the performance,” said Hythe manager Joe Burchell.

“I was thinking, how are the boys going to react to the occasion because we know we’re a good side.

“It was can we perform on the day?

“We were under a bit of pressure, the penalty came at a good time for us, and we built on that.

“Second half, we rode a bit of a storm for 20 minutes and then we took the game over, in my opinion.

“To keep a clean sheet in a final is massive.

“I thought everyone worked their socks off.”

The runs of James Jeffery, popping up all over the place, gave Yalding an early spark and it was his pass that sent Ryan Holden through one-on-one with keeper Sidney Mortley.

Holden beat Mortley but his effort drifted away from goal and James Dunn was thwarted at the far post as he tried to force the ball home.

Jeffery and Cam Roultledge continued to threaten before the game turned Hythe’s way with the award of a penalty after Ben Maci handled a cross.

Theo Smith dived the right way but couldn’t keep out Biggs’ low strike as Hythe took a 28th-minute lead.

Athletic doubled their lead in the 34th minute.

Smith came for a deep free-kick from Josh McCue but missed his punch and Bradford pounced from close range.

Man-of-the-match Charlie Blanks showed his quality at the back with successive challenges as Yalding looked to mount a second-half fightback.

Substitute Jake Holden went close after the hour mark, stabbing wide after a quick counter-attack, then Mortley just about saved Alfie Matthews’ shot with his feet.

The next goal was going to be vital and it went to Hythe as substitute Pickering turned the ball home at the near post following a move down the left.

Joe Bass sent a big chance wide for Yalding after Mortley came out of his area and Ryan Smith threatened a consolation after Maci and George Hodgson combined outside the box.

Hythe Athletic: Sidney Mortley, Matt Biggs, Charlie Blanks, Josh McCue, Ethan Page, Callum Russell, Tom Walmsley, Ethan Bradford, Dan Welsh, Liam Gear, Harry Stevens. Subs: Kieran Redden, Sammy Lane, Arthur Pickering, Harry Stables, Oliver Griffiths.

Yalding & Laddingford: Theo Smith, Ben Maci, Ryan Smith, Liam Anderson, James Dunn, Alfie Matthews, Dan McNelis, Ryan Holden, Cam Routledge, James Jeffery, Ale di Pasquali. Subs: Joe Bass, Lenny Piper, Will Ledger, George Hodgson, Jake Holden.

Referee: Simon Cuthbert.