Sheppey United 2 Hollands & Blair 1: Dean Grant scores winner in Kent Senior Trophy final at the Gallagher Stadium

Sheppey United came from behind to win the Kent Senior Trophy for the second time this season.

Dean Grant hit the winner four minutes from time to add the 2021/22 Trophy to their collection after winning the delayed 2019/20 final back in February.

Jack Simon’s well-struck free-kick had put underdogs Blair ahead early on in the second half but that was matched by substitute Michael Hagan’s set-piece effort for Sheppey, scoring with his first touch before Grant fired home late on.

Both teams ended the match with 10 men after late red cards for Blair’s Luke Exall and Sheppey’s Dan Birch.

The two teams meet again at Sheppey in the league on Saturday as Ernie Batten’s men continue to look for a quadruple of trophies, currently sitting top of the Southern Counties East Premier Division and also in the final of the Challenge Cup.

The first half had none of the excitement that fans watched in the second. Neither keeper was troubled in an opening 45 which saw referee Richard Joss hand out more cards than there were shots in target.

A strong challenge from Chris Saunders saw the Blair man go in the book while Sheppey captain Billy Bennett was also cautioned for a late tackle. Mr Joss also showed a red card to Blair substitute Ricky Freeman after an exchange of words from the bench.

Blair were unable to make the most of a couple of promising set-piece positions but had managed to keep the league leaders relatively quiet at the other end. Liam Gillies and Warren Mfula puts efforts over the bar.

George Benner had a shot deflected wide for the Medway side as the teams reached the break without a goal.

Sheppey striker Dean Grant had a shot deflected wide moments after the restart, running onto a weighted pass from Richie Hamill, but it