Finally after two years of being the bridesmaids, Tankerton finally got their hands on the silverware of the Kent Veterans Cup with what was in the end a comfortable victory over unlucky losers Hotel de Ville.

The Margate side, originally beaten in the semi finals by Hollands & Blair, only for the Gillingham side to own up to playing an ineligible player, started reasonably well, but were left ruing early missed chances with Tankerton scoring twice in the second half of the first period – with the second acting almost as a dagger through de Ville’s heart coming as it did in first half stoppage time.

For a Cup Final, the opening stages were understandably cagey and it was really from their first real attack that Tankerton opened the scoring as Matt Barman gloriously volleyed home from 20 yards after great approach play from the team dressed in (according to the programme) “Dark denim (with orange trim)”.

Tankerton nearly doubled their lead shortly afterwards as Jon Watson did well out wide before cutting inside only to be denied by a combination of keeper Jurgen Wilde and a last ditch defensive challenge.

Hotel’s best chance in the first half came ten minutes from half time as Martin James’ half volley came back off the angle of post and bar with keeper Olson motionless… before Tankerton broke and Lee Waldrock drove an angled shot across the face of goal.

Just as it seemed that Hotel had weathered the storm, they went two down. Paul Blagden played the through ball that all strikers dream of and Nick Bergin raced onto it, rounding the keeper and walked the ball in the net.

“It was undoubtedly the turning point,” Tenterden boss Tim Sells told KSN after the game. “We were looking at a single goal lead, with them getting back into the game, but all of a sudden we’ve got a lead to defend, and they’re chasing!”

And chase they did as the first attack of the second half, Rikki Drapper fired wide from a corner as Tankerton were slow in getting into their stride. But when they did, they sealed their victory in 55 minutes.

A corner wasn’t cleared properly and as it was played back in, Blagden powered home a header which keeper Wilde pulled off a world class save to block. Unfortunately for the keeper, the ball rebounded straight back to Blagden who walked the ball into the net!

De Ville did pull a goal back on the hour when Rhodri Williams gloriously fired home from 25 yards for what was to be a mere consolation.

For a couple of minutes there was genuine hope for a revival, but that went out of the window midway through the second half when De Ville were reduced to ten men after Jon Watson’s second “misjudged” challenge in a matter of minutes.

As legs began to tire, there were a few feisty challenges flying around the Belmont, but referee Beadle just about kept a lid on things as the game ticked by on what was an enjoyable evening played on a fine playing surface for which all at Whitstable Town have to be complimented.

HOTEL DE VILLE – (from) Jurgen Wilde, Simon Jones, Dennis van Meir, Russell Hughes, Russell Wilson, Oliver Brown, Rikki Drapper, Elliott Austen, Martin James, Gary Fairhall, Louis Crow, Terry Green, Peter Wilson, Marc Smith, Rhodri Walters, Phillip Craddock.

TANKERTON (from) – Adrian Olson, Matt Downs, Lee Rebbeck, Lee Oliver, Tim Sells, Paul Blagden, Jon Watson, Matthew Betts, Lee Waldrock, Scott Drake, Nick Green, Matt Barman, Nick Bergin, Russell Mason, Richard Fisher, Brett Harrison.

Referee – Matthew Beadle
Assistants – Steve Joyce & Dean Firmin
Fourth official – Gavin Wallis

Pictures supplied by www.psp-images.co.uk