An early wonder strike helped The Charcoal to victory in the DFDS Kent Veterans Cup Final on Friday night.
Marlon Patterson struck from 30 yards as his side took charge of the showpiece against Warlingham at Tonbridge Angels FC.
Man-of-the-match Ricky Shakes added a second midway through the first half and that’s how it stayed.
The Charcoal were worthy winners, controlling the game and looking sharper in every department.
They were particularly dominant in the first half and while Warlingham grew into the game after the break, the Charcoal defence won virtually every ball that came into their box.
Victory completed a set of trophies for The Charcoal, whose manager James Farrell formed the side in 2020 as a way of helping men with their mental health amid the Covid pandemic.
“We’re delighted - it’s the only one we hadn’t won,” said Farrell.
“We’ve won the London Cup, the League Cup, the league, the Charity Shield, all the vets trophies you can win, but not this one, so it’s one I had my eye on.
“We changed the game plan, dropped players and played players out of position to shock Warlingham.
“We’ve had tough games against them, they know how we play, so we changed it up and it worked.
“Marlon, who scored the first goal, is one that doesn’t normally play.
“He said ‘I’m going to score’ and he did.
“It was a great strike but don’t tell him that because he hasn’t shut up about it!
“If I’m honest, I don’t think 2-0 reflected the game. It could have been three or four.”
The Charcoal were straight on the front foot, with Warlingham pinned back in their own half for long periods.
The driving runs of Shakes, a former Guyana international who started his career at Bolton, set the tone.
Warlingham keeper Karl Evans made early saves from big frontman Carl Wilson-Denis and Shakes but had no chance with a stunning sixth-minute opener.
Ex-AFC Wimbledon man Anthony Finn, who had a good game down the right, laid the ball inside to Patterson, whose strike from distance flew into the top corner.
Chris Piper was a growing influence, bringing the ball out from the back and picking his passes, as Charcoal looked for a second goal.
It arrived in the 24th minute following a neat move outside the box, with Shakes tucking home the rebound after Wilson-Denis’ shot came back off the post.
Warlingham went close to a spectacular reply five minutes into the second half after Samuel Clayton spotted keeper Turgay Arli off his line.
Clayton, a good 45 yards out, went for the lob but Arle got back just in time to claim the ball.
That was as close as Warlingham went to a goal, with Charcoal’s makeshift centre-backs keeping them at bay.
Wilson-Denis was denied at the other end following a shot on the turn while substitute Warren Killick hit the outside of the post after Shakes threatened to score again.
The Charcoal: Turgay Arli, Chris Piper, Micah Banton, Lee Hall, Marlon Patterson, Max Jefferys, Nicky Greene, Shane Graham, Anthony Finn, Ricky Shakes, Carl Wilson-Denis. Subs: Owen Price, Warren Killick, Steve Percival, Terry Forsyth.
Warlingham: Karl Evans, Aaron Hasan, Liam Harwood, Christopher Boulter, Daniel Podd, Michael Smith, Samuel Clayton, Callum Maclean, Nicholas Forster, John Leavy, David Cox. Subs: Christopher Head, William Rivers, Jack Cowell, Jamie Baker Dan Heavens.
Referee: Alan Widnall.
