Manager Michael Golding believes what Corinthian have done this season has been underappreciated by many ahead of their play-off final.

Golding’s Hoops are set to visit Erith Town for the inaugural Southern Counties East Premier Division (SCEFL) play-off final on Monday in a rematch of the Challenge Cup showdown, which the Dockers won on spot-kicks.

But they were victorious on penalties in their final-four fixture on Tuesday, beating Faversham 4-1 after a 2-2 draw, while two goals in five second-half minutes from Tom Ash and Harry Taylor ensured Erith Town edged past Glebe 2-1.

The Hoops are one of few in the division who operate without a playing budget but their tight-knit squad have enjoyed a good cup run this term and are now one game away from a swift return to Isthmian South East football after suffering 2022/23 relegation.

“We came into this season not really knowing as a management team what we were going to have,” said Golding.

“First and foremost, we set out to win the league, although we knew that was going to be difficult - Faversham, Whitstable and Deal. You expected those teams to be there.

“Deal have been the most consistent side across the whole season and (boss) Steve King, who I get on really well with, and their squad, they fully deserved to win it.

“But for Corinthian Football Club to operate without a playing budget - there’s no expenses and no one gets anything - to compete with Faversham and all the teams in the play-offs, that’s full testament to the players and the management team.

“I think we have to work harder than everyone else to just give ourselves a chance.

“Okay, we haven’t achieved what we want in terms of promotion - yet - but in terms of getting to a play-off final, what the boys have done is so underappreciated by the vast majority of people in the league.

“It’s so difficult for us to recruit players because money talks. It’s not all about money - it certainly helps and makes things easier - but what we have got, without the money, is the bond of the boys.

“I think that showed in the second half on Tuesday. These boys just don’t know when they are beaten and that’s the character of the side.”

Golding thinks Adam Woodward’s Erith Town team will go in as favourites despite Corinthian winning both of their regular league fixtures this season.

When they met in the Challenge Cup Final at Hollands & Blair, winger Michael Hagan, one of their midweek scorers alongside teenage defender Dean Nayler, netted.

But James Dyer tucked away a spot-kick before Erith Town, also Kent Senior Trophy victors this year, won the shootout.

“Monday gives us a chance of retribution,” admitted Golding after the Faversham match. “Erith will go in as favourites.

“They set out their stall that they wanted to get promoted and they have recruited well, and they’re paying well. They have got a fantastic team.

“But we’ll get together as a management team, we will be in Thursday, we’ll be in Saturday and we’ll come up with a game-plan that gives us the best chance.”

While Corinthian are perhaps not as big in terms of stature as some of their divisional rivals, the squad - which still includes captain Jamie Billings, Oscar Housego and Brandon Davey who have stuck with them following relegation - know how to do the business on the pitch.

Golding suggested: “We should not be anywhere near these play-offs and we shouldn’t be anywhere near the Isthmian League.

“If you look at every other team in SCEFL, there’s probably only two others with no budget and they’re in the bottom-third. What we’re doing is unheard of.

“These supporters go through thick and thin with us. We have been good, we have been bad, we have been ugly, and they win, lose and draw with us.

“To be able to run and celebrate with them on Tuesday and give them something back - because last year was tough, getting relegated - that was a horrible experience.

“We have got a whole new team, other than Jamie, Oscar and Brandon. Those boys have stuck it out.

“We’re tiny compared to a lot of teams. If you look when we were at Whitstable last Saturday, they had 800 fans. Deal have got more than 1,500 fans, there were 800 fans here, and we cannot compete with those numbers.

“But what we do have is a small band of supporters and volunteers who love this club dearly.

“The boys will go into Monday and fight tooth and nail. If that’s not enough, fair play and Erith will deserve it.

“What we will always promise is we will work incredibly hard and won’t leave anything in the changing room.

“We will put everything out on the pitch.”