RAMSGATE clinched the Go Travel Kent League title with a hard earned 2-0 win at bottom club Lordswood on Saturday.

However, they had to wait more than five minutes after the final whistle before the celebrations began, when news that rivals Herne Bay had been held to a 2-2 draw at Hythe finally filtered through.

Chairman Richard Lawson kept in touch with what was happening at Reachfields throughout the afternoon, and broke the news to his delighted players, management and supporters.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted for everybody connected with the club. It is a fantastic achievement, but we must give credit to Herne Bay.

"It's been a great great race. We have been in front of them, they have been in front of us, and have done very well, but we have just done a little bit better. They lifted themselves last Tuesday, played excellently against us to win 3-1, but perhaps that took a little bit too much out of them.

"We had someone at the game at Hythe who was ringing through the latest score, and there was lot of pressure from Herne Bay as you would expect, but it wasn't quite enough.

"This is sweeter than last time, as we had a lot of players living outside the area, this time they are nearly all local lads.

"Jim Ward has come back and has been the heartbeat of the club since he came back. He has got these young lads believing in themselves, and delegation is his watchword. He gets everybody involved, gives them all a job to do, organises things and delegates superbly."

It is the third time that Ward has won the Kent league, twice with Ramsgate and once with Maidstone, before parting company with them two years ago.

He said:" We are a completely different club than when we won it in 1999. The only reason I came back was because they were ambitious."

However, Ramsgate are still waiting to find out if they will be promoted automatically or have to compete in an end of season play-off.

Ward added: "We have to enjoy the moment, because you don't get many like this. I am frightened we will be pulled into the play-offs, but it will be the icing on the cake if we are promoted."

Shane Suter curled in a 57th minute free kick to break the deadlock after a gutsy display by Lordswood, and Shaun Welford added the second, his 21st goal of the season.