Tonbridge Angels got the better of Hollands & Blair in a highly-entertaining Kent Women’s Plate Final at Maidstone’s Gallagher stadium on Thursday.

All the goals came in an action-packed first half that resembled a basketball match at times with the game flowing from end to end in front of a bumper crowd.

Angels striker Grace Mayhead proved the difference with a hat-trick to take home the matchball and the player-of-the-match award.

Tonbridge manager Joe Rowe said: “It was a tough game and a lot of credit to Hollands & Blair as they made it really difficult for us, especially in the first half.

“When we did settle into the game and were able to play our football we were able to create high-quality chances and probably deserved to win it on the balance.

“Grace’s goals were all great finishes and that’s what she’s done all season. She’s on 31 goals now so she deserves a lot of credit in a high-pressure environment.

“We finished second in the league and are on a pretty good run, we’re 12 unbeaten and this has come at a right time.

“We deserved to be here and we wanted to put on a performance and get a result that we deserved so we’re very pleased.

“We play at Longmead so we know our style of play would be suited to the pitch here, we try to play out from one side, play nice and wide. We know that comes with risk but the reward is you get lots of opportunities and we created a lot.”

Both sides showed early nerves in the opening five minutes but once Tonbridge captain Aimee Churchill saw her sixth-minute free-kick saved, the chances flowed at either end.

Excellent Angels centre-back Megan Gill made a perfect tackle to deny Blair’s Laura Farley a clear run on goal before Tonbridge’s Hope Mumford was unable to turn the ball home from close range.

Tonbridge went ahead on eight minutes as Mayhead burst clear of the last two defenders and delivered a right-foot shot beyond keeper Erin Farley from 20 yards.

Two minutes later, Laura Farley saw her effort from a Sophie Milner corner cleared off the line. But she was not to be denied moments later, the same combination working again as she turned the ball home from close range.

Within a minute, Angels’ Alice Grandpierre played in Hope Mumford but her low shot was saved by the keeper.

Blair went ahead on 17 minutes with a moment of magic from Sophie Nicholls. She stepped up to take a free-kick from at least 30 yards out and promptly found the top corner of Ashleigh Rhodes’ net.

At the other end, Nicholls’ chip went just over and Mayhead was denied by another excellent save.

But it was 2-2 on 25 minutes when Gill’s ball over the top found its way through to Mayhead who produced another accomplished finish.

The chances didn’t stop there as Tonbridge started to control possession and territory. Angels’ JJ Sullivan clipped the top of the bar and Erin Farley was out bravely to deny Mayhead.

They deservedly regained the lead on 39 minutes when a brilliant backheel by Churchill unlocked the Blair defence and Charlotte Cresswell’s finish matched the build-up.

Mayhead arguably saved the best for last, Churchill sent her free on the stroke of half-time and Mayhead completed her hat-trick in style with a brilliant chip over the keeper.

Blair went close with the last effort of the half but Maisy Rogers headed wide from another dangerous Milner corner.

Whether it was tiredness or both managers’ stern half-time team talks to their defences, chances were few and far between in the second half.

Blair’s Laura Farley saw her 20-yard shot saved and they were handed a way back into the final on 64 minutes but Rogers saw her spot-kick saved by Rhodes before blazing the rebound over the bar.

Tonbridge could have added to their tally as they had two goals ruled out for offside while Alice Grandpierre, Mumford and Mayhead all went close.

Hollands & Blair: Erin Farley, Hollie Veness, Courtney Baldwin, Louise McCandless, Sophie Ellson, Grace Cornelius, Sophie Milner, Chloe Hopper, Maisy Rogers, Sophie Nicholls, Laura Farley, Katie Murray, Shannon Martin, Gemma Armstrong, Jade Jennings, Hana Pearce.

Tonbridge Angels: Ashleigh Rhodes, Julia Smolarek, Beth Kemp, Megan Gill, Holly Maclaurin, Charlotte Cresswell, Aimee Churchill, Hope Mumford, Alice Grandpierre, Freya Jones, Grace Mayhead, JJ Sullivan, Lottie Starling, Amelia Driscoll, Amelia Cooper, Mollyanne Herbert-Smith.

Referee: Ashley Rodi.