Cray Wanderers produced a brilliant footballing display to win the Kent Merit Under-18 Boys Cup Final over a spirited Kings Hill side on Sunday.

The Wands looked right at home on Whitstable Town’s 3G surface as they passed the ball for fun, showed great movement and in hat-trick hero Michael Ihiedi, they had a striker who was able to convert their dominance into goals.

Many of the side were beaten in last season’s final by Rusthall, but they certainly made up for it second time around.

Cray manager Nick Desanges said: “It’s very special. I’ve been doing this for 10 years, I’ve still got a couple of boys that have played for me since they were six.

“We’ve had a good season but had a few wobbles lately so I wasn’t over-confident but I really enjoyed it.

“I was the under-16 manager last year and I came to watch that final, Rusthall were excellent in that game. I knew I had the squad this year and the experience as some of the second years were part of that.

“I played on that a bit with them and told them they had a second chance and this was their day.

“We’ve had a tough draw, we’ve knocked some really good teams out so we’ve done well.

“I told Michael before the game that he’s a focal point to the team. He’s a quiet softly-spoken lad but he was fantastic. He led the line well and I’m over the moon for him.

“Oli Chiriseri in centre-midfield was unbelievable, he broke everything up and was our glue. Our two centre-halves were excellent and so was George Brooke, especially in the first half.”

Cray went close on 12 minutes as Samuel Robinson drove into the box and set up George Brooke, whose shot was brilliantly parried over the bar by keeper Lucas Brookman.

Kings Hill’s Fin Mulcahy was fouled as he went through on goal after 19 minutes but, with the ball possibly going through to the keeper, the referee opted to show Freddie Warwick a yellow card.

Cray keeper Kevin Kardel produced a good save to keep out Kings Hill skipper Adam Cherry’s header.

Brooke nearly scored an audacious 35-yard opener when he spotted the keeper off his line but the ball went narrowly wide of the upright.

Cray took the lead on the half-hour mark when Brooke’s clever turn and early cross was headed in by Ihiedi.

The lead was doubled eight minutes later as Callum Radman’s cross eventually fell to Ihiedi in the box and, despite claims of handball, he picked his spot with a calm assurance.

Cray almost had the game in the bag on the stroke of half-time but keeper Brookman did well to deny Robinson and Ihiedi before Brooke hit the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Kings Hill changed shape after the break in a bid to stem the tide, and it seemed to work.

They thought they were back in the game on 53 minutes when Tommy Piles produced a crisp 20-yard finish but their celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.

Kings Hill did pull a goal back with 17 minutes left when Dario Arsovski’s header down from a left-wing corner was turned in by Mulcahy.

But Cray showed experience beyond their years to take the sting out of the game and they ended any hopes of a comeback with four minutes left. There seemed little danger when player-of-the-match Ihiedi collected the ball but he strode forward and delivered a blistering 30-yard rocket beyond Brookman to complete an impressive treble.

It was the perfect send-off for departing Cray chief executive Sam Wright, while club chairman Gary Hillman was also in attendance.

The game was also notable for three generations from one family forming part of the referee team. Referee Leigh Newby had son Luis Newby running the line and dad David Newby as fourth official.

Cray Wanderers: Kevin Kardel, Callum Radman, Archie Morley, Luke Witter, Lincoln Hunter, Freddie Warwick, Oliver Chiriseri, George Brooke, Billy Wall, Michael Ihiedi, Samuel Robinson, Paddy Mclaren, Ralph Short, Carter Grant, Ben Raper, Callum Mcqueen-Hinckley.

Kings Hill: Lucas Brookman, Freddy Preston, Alex Kirk, Adam Cherry, Dario Arsovski, Indy Robinson, Jacob Johnson, Josh Bruce, Will Seage, Tommy Piles, Fin Mulcahy, Harrison Fryer, Cass Marshall, Cellan Wenham, Harry Dew, Ed Dyer.

Referee: Leigh Newby.