Hollands & Blair 2 Fisher 1: 2023 SCEFL Challenge Cup Final at the Belmont Ground, Whitstable - Ben Brown scores twice for Scott Porter’s winning team

Hollands & Blair striker Ben Brown struck a late winner against Fisher in the final of the SCEFL Challenge Cup.

It was Brown’s second of the match having put Blair infront before Fisher’s Isaac Thompson had levelled it up with the last action of the first half from the penalty spot.

Blair boss Scott Porter had missed out on silverware last season in the Kent Senior Trophy but was celebrating at the final whistle on Monday at the home of his former club Whitstable.

Porter, speaking after the final whistle, said that he was “emotionally and mentally drained” after a topsy-turvy final but delighted to have won the trophy for the club.

“We know what it means,” he said. “We fell short last year in a cup final and we wanted to give everything, to do what we did, to hang on, I am immensely proud of them.”

Fisher had gone into the cup game with some good form behind them in the Southern Counties East league - in contrast to Blair’s poor run during the closing weeks - and it was the Bermondsey side who made the early running in Monday’s final.

Numerous chances came and went for the Fish, with left-sided player Cedric Nganga proving a handful, and their leading scorer Thompson striking the upright early on.

It took Blair some time to find their way into the game, with their first chances coming from set-plays, which they were unable to make the most of. Rob Gilman came close to converting a terrific Jack Simon cross with half an hour hone but couldn’t get a decent contact with his head.

Blair had improved but the pacey Fish attack were always dangerous and when Jacob Katonia broke through, he only had keeper Dan Ellis to beat, but found the outside of the post.

Fish had been unable to make the most of their early dominance and it