Welling United lifted the DFDS Kent Senior Cup after Ebbsfleet hit the woodwork four times in the first half at Priestfield Stadium.

The Wings certainly rode their luck but a clinical piece of finishing from Josh Redfearn separated the two sides.

Welling manager Brian Statham said: “I’m really proud of what they achieved, the boys, and I think they shouldn't take that for granted. Regardless of what cup it is, winning is always difficult.

“To do it in a cup final against a National League side that are full-time, that represents a really big achievement.

“They had a good few opportunities, hitting the bar, the post, probably three, four, maybe even five times in the first half.

“But that's not a 1-0 victory where it's a smash and grab. We've been in that game on the counter-attack, and I think I can count at least four occasions when we probably should have scored.”

With Ebbsfleet’s fate at the bottom of the National League already sealed and Welling staring relegation in the face, it was a chance for the teams to give their respective sets of fans something to cheer about.

Both sides made seven changes from their respective league outings at the weekend.

It was Ebbsfleet who started brightest with George Moncur’s 20-yard free-kick hitting the post in the sixth minute.

Then Ben Chapman played in Dominic Poleon, who lifted the ball past keeper Rhys Lovett but Max Statham was alert enough to get back and clear off the line.

Welling’s first meaningful attack saw a long throw-in fall to Zain Walker, whose snapshot went wide of the upright.

A minute later, Martell Taylor-Crossdale’s persistence set up Finn McBride in the box but his pull back was put behind for a corner.

An end-to-end game saw the Fleet hit the woodwork again on 17 minutes, the lively Ryan Carr setting up Moncur, whose first-time right-foot effort from 20 yards came back off the crossbar.

Walker was lively down the right wing for Welling and they went close on 19 minutes as his cross into the box fell for Taylor-Crossdale, whose fierce shot was beaten away by Felix Goddard in the Ebbsfleet goal.

A goal was inevitable and it was the Wings who went ahead on 23 minutes. Rakish Bingham coughed up possession facing his own goal and former Fleet loanee Jez Davies strode forward being playing in Redfearn to confidently slot beyond Goddard.

Just two minutes later, Ebbsfleet incredibly hit the woodwork again. Alex Aoraha played in Poleon, whose left-foot shot beat keeper Rhys Lovett back came crashing back off the post.

The Fleet hit the crossbar again on 28 minutes, the fourth time in 22 minutes they hit the woodwork. Lovett didn’t know whether to come or not for Chapman’s cross and Poleon’s lob clipped the top of the bar before bouncing behind for a goal kick.

Josh Wright’s side must have gone in at half-time not just wondering how they were trailing but how they hadn’t already wrapped the game up.

Ebbsfleet were indebted to keeper Goddard for a magnificent save 11 minutes into the second half. Redfearn was sent clean through and while Chapman did well to hold him up, he was still able to tee up Taylor-Crossdale, who turned eight yards from goal but saw Goddard out smartly to divert his shot away for a corner.

Ebbsfleet substitute Franklin Domi’s involvement lasted just over 10 minutes. He had to wait for his own physio to bring out a stretcher to be carried off after he was injured when challenging Ballard-McBride, the Fleet man collecting a yellow card from the referee as he went off.

The long stoppage, along with the flurry of substitutions, took the flow out of the game and both sides created fewer chances than in the first half.

Poleon dragged his 20-yard shot wide and then hit the crossbar, although it wouldn’t have counted as the flag was already up for offside in the 90th minute.

There were eight minutes of stoppage time indicated, and it could have been more given the amount of time Lovett tried to eat up.

Redfearn had the ball in the net with almost the last kick of the game but he was denied a second goal by the offside flag.

Ebbsfleet boss Wright said: “You can't have that many clear-cut chances first half and not take them.

“They weren't just half chances, they're clear-cut chances. We hit the woodwork four times in the first half which is so frustrating.

“We conceded the goal and they sort of dug in a little bit and sat in, we stopped doing what was getting us the joy.

“It really frustrates me because tonight could have been a fantastic night and continued a mini run of momentum that we were on.”

Ebbsfleet: Goddard, O’Neill, Cordner (Maktelow 46mins), Olagunju, Chapman, Carr, Aoraha (Bolger 53mins), Moncur, Cundle (Domi 53mins, Anthony 70mins), Bingham (Cosgrave 68mins), Poleon.

Welling: Lovett, Davies (Kashket 90+4mins), H Walker, Z Walker (Kamara 39mins), Taylor-Crossdale (Briscoe 78mins, Ballard-McBride (Cornish 66mins), Quick, Bramble, Di Trolio, Redfearn, Statham. Subs not used: Moore, Briscoe.

Referee: Joseph Dann-Pye.