Player-manager Luke Coleman scored twice as Barnehurst lifted the DFDS Kent Sunday Junior Cup on Sunday.
Coleman, a former Ebbsfleet and Margate winger, added to Andrew Browne’s classy opener and netted the injury-time clincher, while Taner Baycanli also struck.
Marshall Wratten’s second-half double - including a goal direct from a corner - gave Faversham Strike Force hope - but Barnehurst were worthy winners at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium.
Tony Stanley, who is part of Coleman’s management team, said: “I think we deserved to win. We should have shut the game off in the first half.
“Second half, we knew they were going to come out all guns blazing.
“We worked them out very early in the first half but they changed their formation in the second half and then you never know what can happen.
“They put it on us, they’ve got a lot of big lads and they won a lot in the air.
“It was about grit. We told the players you’ve got to put it in, and if you can’t put it in on a day like this, you’re never going to do it.
“You worry when it gets back to 2-1 but we knew we had more goals in us. It was just whether we could score them.”
Coleman said: “It’s a team effort. It’s the first time the club’s ever got close to winning a county competition and we’ve beaten some good teams, so I’m really pleased.”
Dean Tiley hit the outside of the post after running on to man-of-the-match Azeez Alabi’s pass as Barnehurst went close to an early opener.
Talking of midfielder Azeez, he ran the show in an outstanding all-round display that saw him around the pitch, win possession and use the ball well.
Barnehurst opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Browne, with his back to goal in a crowded area, turned on Ryan Moreby’s pass and bent the ball into the top corner.
James Brodie made a goal-saving challenge on Baycanli before captain Mitchel Donn hit the post with a cracking strike as Barnehurst looked to build on their lead.
Dan Sadler’s 30-yard strike was palmed wide by Jacob Quieros at the other end before Barnehurst went 2-0 up on 42 minutes.
Baycanli’s ball across the six-yard box was missed by a Strike Force defender and there was Coleman to slot home.
Joseph Kay went close from a corner for Strike Force early in the second half before substitute Wratten collected Alex Willis’ pass and fired into the bottom corner on 57 minutes.
Comeback hopes were dented eight minutes later as Donn fed the hardworking Baycanli, who broke into the box, got between two defenders, and finished smartly for 3-1.
It was game on again, though, in the 87th minute when Wratten’s wicked inswinging corner from the right went straight in.
Wratten sent a free-kick wide as Strike Force pushed for a leveller but Barnehurst made sure of victory in the eighth of 12 added minutes.
Baycanli was the provider again, laying on a tap-in for Coleman at the back post.
Barnehurst: Jacob Quieros, Jim Yardley, Andrew Russell, Michael McQuire, Ryan Moreby, Azeez Alabi, Mitchel Donn, Andrew Browne, Dean Tiley, Taner Baycanli, Luke Coleman. Subs: Jerel Morris, Matt Newman, Steve Williams, Donovan James, Stefan Dixon.
Faversham Strike Force: Zach Medley, Max Frawley, Richard Daws, James Brodie, Thomas Scamp, Robert Parker, Dan Sadler, Thomas Holmes, Joseph Kay, Daniel Patrasecsu, Alex Willis. Subs: Harry Brown, Marshall Wratten, Ethan Kipling, Adam Chilvers, Oliver Brown.
Referee: Christopher Skilton.
