Lewis Taylor scored an injury-time winner as Medway City won a dramatic Kent Junior Cup A final against Littlebourne at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday.

Left-back Taylor somehow found the energy to drive into the penalty area and beat a couple of defenders in the third minute of stoppages before firing a right-foot shot into the roof of the net.

It capped a thrilling final - the last county showpiece due to be staged this season - which saw both teams lead at different stages before Littlebourne tasted defeat for the first time this season.

“It was unbelievable,” said Medway City boss Ray Broad. “I’m really proud of my boys, they were out on their feet at the end.

“They are a very good side, they’d won 34 out of 34 this season - but we stuck in there and what a brilliant result for us.

“We were a little nervous at the start but it seemed every time we scored they came straight back and got an equaliser.

“Lewis is purely left-footed so when it was on his right foot, I thought just hit it, but thankfully it went in.”

Rochester & District League side Medway took the lead in the 11th minute, Regan Payne was not penalised for handball as he chested down a left-wing cross before setting up Sam Parish, who fired across keeper Shannon Harris into the far corner.

The lead lasted just three minutes. There appeared little danger as a loose ball fell invitingly for Aaron Garvey but he had other ideas and launched an audacious 30-yard shot into the top corner over stranded keeper Russell Hood.

Littlebourne went ahead for the only time in the contest five minutes before the break. Right-back Jon Lewis delivered an excellent cross for skipper Robbie Loomer to head in from close range.

Canterbury & District League Littlebourne hit the woodwork directly from a Ted Johnson corner before the game turned on a twice-taken penalty in first-half stoppage time.

There was no disputing referee Mark Fitzpatrick’s decision to award handball as Steven Murray tried to block a shot by City’s Dave Stacey.

But the referee then ordered a retake after Payne’s spot-kick was saved and Parish took over penalty duties to level the scores up in the sixth minute of injury time.

Medway were gifted the lead six minutes after the break when keeper Harris - commendable in trying to play out from the back - could only find Parish on the edge of the area and the left-winger needed no second invitation to complete his hat-trick.

Yet again, Littlebourne struck back immediately, scoring a penalty of their own two minutes later as Loomer sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

But Medway regained the lead three minutes later, a delicious deep cross by Luke Armour was headed in by Parish for his fourth goal, despite Harris doing well to get a hand to it.

Substitute Bobby Powell got Littlebourne back into the game. He did well to reach a ball on the byline, let alone deliver the cross of the match for Matt Martin to make it 4-4 from close range with 20 minutes left.

Martin then hit the bar for Littlebourne, who appeared the likely winners as Lewis headed over and Dec Wale shot wide before there was one final twist in the tale.

With Parish substituted, it needed a new goalscorer to step up for City and Taylor scored a goal worthy to win a game that had everything.

Medway City: Russell Hood, Luke Armour, Connor Miller, Jack Hammell, Lewis Taylor, Dave Stacey, Sam Prescott, Kamley Robinson, Sam Parish, Al Scott, Regan Payne, Callum Graham, Callum Fisher, Josh Strydom, Jacey Cave, Gaz Green.

Littlebourne: Shannon Harris, Jon Lewis, Steven Murray, Ryan Sims, Euan Morgan, Mike Tritton, Ted Johnson, Dec Wale, Aaron Garvey, Robbie Loomer, Matt Martin, Craig Swann, Liam Horgan, Danny Bangs, Bobby Powell, Bert Wells.

Referee: Mark Fitzpatrick.