The time for excuses is over as Holland's & Blair look to end their season on a high.

Blair were hoping to find some winning form ahead of their SCEFL Challenge Cup Final against Fisher but instead head into Monday’s match without a win in their last seven games as their league campaign petered out.

Manager Scott Porter has been hit with player unavailability ever since their Semi-Final shoot-out win over Kennington a month ago.

It’s all or nothing now though for Blair as they head to Whitstable Town’s Belmont Stadium for the league’s showpiece cup Final.

Porter said: “Fisher will be a tough nut to crack, we drew twice with them this season, they have got momentum, won a few games, they’re a good side.

“We will have a good following, the club is on the up, the attendances are really good, the club is run the right way, the facilities are good but I need to get silverware, that is what I came to the club to do.

“In the league, with the budget I have got, you are not going to compete with the teams in the top four, we can’t compete with those teams, but there are always opportunities in cup competitions to win some silverware and that’s exactly what I want us to do.

“We need to be at our very, very best to win that game.

“I’ve not been able to name the same team since we won the Semi-Final and that’s frustrating but that’s part and parcel of this level, people unavailable, suspensions, injuries, things like that and me trying to look after players as well.

“We have got a few old heads in the side and we have had Saturday-Tuesday games since getting to the Final, it has taken its toll a little bit. We have rotated the squad and it’s given me an opportunity to look at the youngsters as well.

“We know what we have got now to work with and so there is a plus side there, to have given them some experience and it will stand us in good stead ahead of the summer, but like I said to the boys, there are no excuses now.

“On Monday I will play my strongest side. We know what we have to do and we’ll work on things. We have had people not being able to commit every game because they don’t want to get injured or suspended, this that or the other, I get that, but it is frustrating because you want momentum going into the Final.

“I hate losing games and the way we have lost games is not the way I want to do it.

“We have been giving poor goals away and that comes down to the availability of players. I am asking certain people to do a job when they actually can’t do it, no disrespect to them, it’s just the standards I have got, some are not up to scratch, but I need to find out what players I need to keep for next season and where we want to move on.

“We know what we want to get, we have identified players for next season, we know where we want to be but there are no excuses for Monday, it’s a massive game for this football club.”

Blair reached the Kent Senior Trophy Final last year, losing 2-1 to all-conquering Sheppey United.

A seven-game winless run has seen Blair finish their SCEFL Premier Division season sitting 15th. The league campaign ended with a 2-1 home defeat against Tunbridge Wells.

Porter said: “We were doing okay when we got to the Final, that was our aim, to finish higher than we did last season and to win a cup, that was what I set out to do.

“We haven’t finished as high as we did last year and we still need to win a cup but the league position will go out the window if we win that cup on Monday.

“I think getting to the Final took a lot out of people, I have not had the availability, which has been disappointing, everyone has been there but we have to look after players, that is is what I have done. No excuses now.

“The league is done and dusted, that is where we are. At the end of the day would you rather finish 15th and be in a Cup Final or eighth and not be in a Cup Final?

“It is a big day for the football club and everyone remembers them but it’s only memorable if you win it, simple as that.”

Porter will hope to have his captain Louis Valencia available after he went off injured against Tunbridge Wells with a hamstring strain.

“He’s a big player for us and we tick when he is in the side,” said Porter. “He has been at the football club for many years and he deserves to lead the players out on the Final day and I don’t want him to miss it. We will do everything we possibly can to get him fit.”

Goalkeeper Dan Ellis should also be back after his London Marathon exploits while John Walker is expected to return from a spell with Hawkinge Town.

Blair will be well backed at Whitstable and Porter will hope some of the home town fans turn up too, having spent some enjoyable seasons there in the past as manager, enjoying league and cup success - including a SCEFL League Cup win while at the club.

Porter said: “I still talk to the Oyster Boys, the boys who followed us all the time, hopefully they will be there. We had a good time at Whitstable and they hold a place in the heart because of what we did there and they are good people, they have great facilities there now and I hope they back us as well.

“There are boys here who were with me at Whitstable and I am pretty sure they will be with us, which will be good and we will be taking a lot of fans as well. It will only be a special day though if we win, simple as that.”