Two goals from Ashley Doe settled what was in all fairness a very poor Intermediate Cup Final between Medway neighbours at Sittingbourne’s Woodstock Park.

Whether it was a question of Cup Final jitters, a bobbly pitch or plain nerves, this was a contest from which the watching crowd of around 250 (which included Forest Green Rovers boss Adrian Pennock) deserved more and for which Lordswood boss Ben Hilden was left bewildered at the end of the game.

He said, “I just can’t explain why we didn’t get going – we didn’t get going at all! We’ve had a good season in the League yet we get to tonight and didn’t compete – they wanted it more than we did!”

“We said to them at half time that we had to get going but even then it took until the last five minutes and then it was too late. Fair play to Hollands and Blair though – they deserved their win tonight.”

Blair boss Phil Knight was naturally delighted – “Two good goals; we’ve played better but then things like that happen in Cup Finals?”

“We knew that the first goal was all important and that’s why Ashley’s strike was so sweet and so welcome. I was pleased at the way we contained them and I don’t really think that Dan (keeper Dan Ellis) had a shot to save.”

“That said, we didn’t test their keeper too much and that was disappointing, but” he continued grabbing the Cup, “we’ve got the silverware.”

The game itself was a strange affair as it took half an hour for either keeper to be really tested and that was the point at which the Blair took the lead. A corner wasnt cleared properly by the Lordswood defence and Ashley Doe thundered home the strike from the egde of the box.

Thankfully the game woke up and Jason Doe was denied by a brave save from Lords keeper Steve Branton, before Tom Wooldridge saw his chance go as Ellis made a smart save on the very edge of his box.

The second half thankfully was better though not much! Jason Doe missed a great chance right after the break as off balance he couldn’t get a shot in when well placed before Sam Welch brought a fine save out of Branton – sprinting free into the Lords box, Welch’s low drive was brillinatly tipped round the post by the keeper.

Lordswood threatened briefly as Jim Funnell shot over from a corner, and from another Lordswood corner, Blair should have doubled their lead. A clearance fell to Josh Baron who charged forward; his ball seemed to have released Anthony Carlton but Carlton’s first touch was poor and the chance was gone.

The game was sealed in the 89th minute when Ashley Doe gloriously volleyed over the keeper on the angle from the edge of the box, and the cheers that greeted the goal was in all truth probably a mixture of Blair celebration and relief that the Final was over.

“It wasnt pretty,” admitted Knights, “but as far as we’re concerned it’s job done!”

HOLLANDS AND BLAIR RESERVES – Dan Ellis, Josh Brown, Rob Alderman, Damien Hodge, Ben Brown, Mike Hamilton, Sam Welch, Jack Crump, Jason Doe, Sam Gutteridge, Ashley Doe

Subs – Mark Swift, Joe Hopkins, Sam Reece Prescott, Anthony Carlton, Tom Arnold

LORDSWOOD RESERVES – Steve Branton, Mitchell Goee, Jay Wells, Sam Lovage, Stephen Sage, Tom Wooldridge, Ryan Hooker, Jim Funnell, Grant McIlheron, Sam Aldred

Subs – Brady Lillis, Gabe Luckhurst, Mark Rothery, Toss Wood, Sam Down