Manager Scott Porter admits Whitstable’s form could not be better going into Sunday’s Kent Senior Trophy final but that does not mean they start as favourites.

Town face Southern Counties East League rivals Sheppey at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium (kick-off 2pm) and after winning 2-0 at Croydon on Wednesday, will do so on the back of 18 games unbeaten.

The Reds, third in SCEL, are unbeaten in two meetings with the 14th-placed Ites this season, winning 1-0 at The Belmont before drawing 0-0 in the return but Porter says those results won’t count for anything in the final.

He said: “We’re on a great run of form but you can’t say we’re favourites. I don’t think there are ever any favourites in a cup final, form goes out of the window.

“Sheppey haven’t been doing great but this could be what they’re waiting for, so we definitely won’t be taking anything for granted.

“We’ve just got to make sure we carry on playing to our strengths and do the things we’ve been doing well in the last few months.”

Porter described the final as a massive occasion for Whitstable and admits it would mean a great deal to him to collect his first trophy with the club.

He added: “I’ve won things before with Hythe, which was great but I got brought here to win trophies and this is the first opportunity for me if you like.

“A cup final against Sheppey is massive for Whitstable, there’s going to be a big crowd and if you win on days like these, the memories stay with you forever.”

Sunday’s final is one of four games in nine days for Porter’s side who face a total of 12 matches in April plus the SCEL Challenge Cup final against Tunbridge Wells at Tonbridge on Saturday, May 5.

Defender Craig Cloke misses Sunday’s final due to his knee injury while youngster Teddy Nelson is cup tied having played earlier in the competition for Hollands & Blair.

Stuart West and Shaun Welford were both members of Ashford’s Trophy winning team last season, striker Welford scoring both goals in the 2-1 win over Cray Valley.