Paul Chambers says Southern Counties East League rivals Phoenix Sports are worthy champions.

The Barnehurst club clinched top-spot with a 1-0 victory at Erith & Belvedere on Wednesday night, and Chambers paid tribute to them, admitting: We were never in it weeks ago, we just wanted to keep going as long as we could, but realistically weren’t in with a shout,

“It wasn’t the 0-0 home draw against Sevenoaks on Tuesday night, or the couple of bad results (against Cray Valley PM and Erith Town) a couple of weeks ago, that cost us, but drawing too many games earlier in the season, and losing 4-0 at Erith & Belvedere when we didn’t have a team.

“We have been superb since the beginning of December, dropping only seven points, but it was August to October that did for us.”

United ended Phoenix’s undefeated 33-game league record on Saturday, but Chambers said: “Fair play to Steve O’Boyle he has done a fabulous job, and to go this far in the season unbeaten is some achievement.

“They deserve to win it, losing only one game is an awesome feat.

“Good luck to them, they are a great club and nice people, I am gutted we didn’t win it, but pleased for them.”

He added: “It’s frustrating but we got this squad together too late, if we had it from the beginning of the season, I think we would have been a lot closer."

United's quest to finish runners-up for the second successive season continues at home to Crowborough on Saturday.

They then aim for a swift double against Phoenix in their final home game of the season on Tuesday night (7.45pm).