Whitstable Town were crowned winners of the Southern Counties East Challenge Cup after a 1-0 win against Tunbridge Wells.

Ricky Freeman got the only goal of the game on Saturday in the match played at the Longmead Stadium.

The forward scored a superb looping volley over the Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper to give Town their second trophy of the season.

It capped a fine season for Scott Porter’s side who also were promoted to the Bostik South while their opponents ended the season in 15th place.

Whitstable started the brighter of the two team with a number of chances in the first 10 minutes.

The best of those fell to Ricky Freeman who was given space on the edge of the box and saw his shot hit the outside of the post.

Dan Eason in the Whitsable goal was forced into a save halfway through the first half. Jon Pilbeam attempted to lob a strike over the goalkeeper but he pushed it out for a corner.

Freeman and Jack Harris both had free-kicks from dangerous positions for Whitstable and Tunbridge Wells respectively as the first half drew to a close.

However, they failed to get their free-kicks over the wall.

Whitstable again were the quickest out of the blocks in the second half.

The best chance fell to Danny Williams in the 57th minute when his header hit the post, the second time they hit the woodwork.

It was Freeman who gave Town the lead in the 66th minute with an unbelievable strike from the edge of the box.

He volleyed the ball over the Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper and into the far corner to make it 1-0.

The game was tight in the last 20 minutes of the game with neither side creating much in the way of chances.

Tunbridge Wells had the opportunity to get set pieces in the box but could not put Eason under any pressure.

In the final minute of the match, Biddlecombe went down in the box and claimed he was fouled but the appeals were waved away by the referee.

Tunbridge Wells: Hall, Kendall, Skinner, Crush, Spackman, Lawrence (Mici 81mins), Trespaderne (Biddlecombe 63mins), Pilbeam, Shea, Harris, Stanford.

Subs not used: Hampson, Cooke, Hall.

Whitstable Town: Eason, Walker, Burchell, West, Nelson, Bryant, Saunders (Sprosen 72mins), Morrish (Smith 76mins), Freeman, Williams (Welford 78mins), Murray.

Subs not used: Cloke, Ruddy.

Attendance: 749