Whitstable Town manager Jamie Coyle tips Punjab United to finish in Southern Counties East League Premier Division play-off places - and win them - as he reflects on 2-0 Kent Senior Trophy Final win over them

Whitstable boss Jamie Coyle is tipping Punjab United to finish in the play-off places this season - and win promotion with them!

Goals from midfielder Bradley Schafer and substitute Dean Grant steered the Southern Counties East League Premier Division champions to Sunday’s Kent Senior Trophy 2-0 final triumph over Punjab at Maidstone United to complete a league and cup double.

Defeat came for Chipie Sian’s side came just 15 days after their FA Vase semi-final loss to Cockfosters as they narrowly missed out on a spot in a final at Wembley - where Whitstable were victorious against AFC Whyteleafe 12 months ago.

But Gravesend-based Punjab are sixth, just three points behind fourth-placed Rusthall and Bearsted, in fifth, and will start a run of three matches in five days at home to relegated Stansfeld tomorrow.

“I think they will get into the play-offs - and go up,” stated Coyle.

“Physically, they’re really strong. They have got two really tough centre-forwards to play against in Roman Campbell and Harry Ottaway, and we had to stand up and be counted from long throws and set-pieces.

“Defensively, we were brilliant. I think it was a real collective. Splatty (top scorer Javaun Splatt) was absolutely unplayable and we controlled large parts of the game without really killing the game off.

Report: Whitstable 2-0 Punjab United

“It was a really good squad performance.”

Trophy triumph came after the Oystermen had lost 3-2 to Larkfield & New Hythe in last year’s showpiece at the same venue.

They found themselves 3-0 down and, while they fought back through an own goal and captain Jake McIntyre’s second-half penalty, it wasn’t enough.

Coyle, named as Marcel Nimani’s replacement at The Belmont in April 2024, said: “To get here