A thrilling performance by 17-year-old striker Jamil Okai was not enough to prevent a 2-1 London Senior Cup defeat to Bromley on Tuesday night after Kingstonian conceded what manager Alan Dowson called “the two worst goals ever”.

Despite a spirited second-half display, in which Okai created constant panic in the Blue Square South team’s defence, K’s left Imber Court as runners-up for the second year running.

The youngster has been developed from the Ks academy by assistant manager Mark Hams, for whom last night was a partial farewell.

Hams had already announced the LSC final would be his last game with the first-team. But his work for the Ks academy will continue as the club look to develop a stream of new talent.

"Last night is the hungriest I've seen [Jamil]," said Hams. "He really tested himself. I'd said to him 'they may be a division above us, but go out there for a 20 minute spell and give them hell'.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: Ks v Bromley

Not to be: Ks collect their runners-up medals after defeat to Bromley in the London Senior Cup final        SP75603

Hams is convinced the academy will start to produce the players to take K's forwards. "I always said to the club it would take five years. We're three years into that."

"The path with the academy is very very demanding," he added.

"Aside from it, I have to earn a living away from the club in the evening, race from work, race from away games. I didn't want to finish with the academy.

"I'm very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with Dowse, I was only 30 when I started, and I thought I wouldn't let my love for the academy get ahead of my love for the first-team but to be honest it has a little bit."

Dowson, meanwhile, is under no illusions that this season’s 11th place in the Ryman Premier cannot be repeated.

“I’ve got one more year on my contract so I’ve got to do it next year,” he admitted.

“The people who question me and what I do, there’s no good me raising £30,000 again next year, I'll be judged on what I do on the football pitch.

“I can’t fault the second half, couldn’t ask for any more,” added Dowson.

”But conceding after one minute in a cup final, something’s not right.

"But Bromley are a Conference South side at full strength and we’re a young side at the moment with not a big squad. We’ve had a right go.”

Match report:

The game was just 60 seconds young when Bromley’s Elliott Buchanan worked space on the edge of the box and found the corner with a shot reserve keeper Louis Bragg should have saved.

Then Louie Theophanous beat three defenders before cutting the ball back to Aaron Rhule to make it two before the break.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: ks v Bromley GOAL

Last gasp: Kingstonian's star of the future finds the net with the last kick of the game    SP75603     

The large Ks following feared the worst but Dowson’s men produced a rousing second half, with Okai the focal point of almost every attack.

Simon Huckle hit the bar before the ball was cleared off the line, Luke Wanadio struck the post and another scrambled finish from Huckle – as makeshift striking partner – was disallowed for a dubious foul on keeper George Howard.

In between Bromley’s Moses Swaibu received a straight red for hauling down Okai when through on goal.

If the abysmal defending was the same old story of a disappointing season, the emergence of Okai had the 300 Ks fans cheering a future star, one whose leggy style and direct running has drawn comparisons with club legend Jamie Ndah.

Okai eventually found the net with the very last kick of the game – and the season - completing his record of scoring in every round of the cup but referee Ashvin Deenarain blew the final whistle as soon as the ball crossed the line.