After twenty one games in the Kent Reliance Senior Cup campaign, two clubs are left to fight out the final.

It is fair to say that the two teams involved, Dover Athletic and Welling United, have had very different routes to the final.

Whilst Dover team had a bye in the first round and cruised through the next three without conceding a single goal, Welling have had to fight hard to reach the final under multiple different managers.

Chris Kinnear’s Whites started with a 1-0 victory at Herne Bay. Tyrone Marsh scored the only goal with an excellent strike just before half time.

Their next opponents were VCD Athletic who had shown the magic of the cup in the same round by knocking out Gillingham. That did not concern Dover, however, and they ended  any hopes that the Vickers had of a further giant killing. A 4-0 victory was achieved thanks to goals by Moses Emmanuel, Connor Essam, James Caton and Ira Jackson.

In the semi final, goals by Emmanuel, Bondz N’Gala and Caton were sufficient to see off Folkestone Invicta.

It was a comfortable start for Welling too as Mark Goldberg was in charge for their 6-1 win at Chatham. Dan Walker scored a hat-trick for Welling. Jonte Smith, Lyle Della-Verde and Josh Jackson were also on target.

Jamie Day was in charge for Welling’s next game when they played Dartford. Harry Crawford put Welling ahead but Ryan Hayes equalised from the spot. Keaton Wood put holders Dartford ahead but then deflected a Matt Fish shot over his goalkeeper and into the net. Sam Hatton missed an injury time penalty before a shoot out that Welling won 4-1 thanks to some excellent Harry Girling saves

Day had departed by the time that Welling played Bromley in the quarter finals so Tristan Lewis and Harry Wheeler took over for the game that was decided by Crawford’s 40+ yard special.

They were still in charge for the semi final when Welling entertained Charlton Athletic and again claimed victory on penalties. Chris Millar put the Addicks ahead in the first half but Welling equalised when Alex Cathline’s shot was deflected home so the semi final went to penalties.

This time Chris Lewington was the hero as Charlton failed to score any of their four and Welling claimed the win 2-0.

Alex Dyer is now manager of the Wings and will be as keen as Kinnear, to finish the season with some silverware..