Borden Village have won the Kent County League Premier Division for the first time in their history.

The Villagers got the point they needed with a goalless draw against title rivals Minster.

Their Thanet opponents hit the post in the last five minutes but it was the hosts’ day in front of a big crowd of 250 at Borden Playstool.

“I’m over the moon for the club,” said chairman Ian Williams.

“I’ve been there 45 years as a player, manager, a jack of all trades, and this is the greatest thing ever to happen in my time.

“To play nine games in 24 days and pick up 22 points out of 27 to end up winning the league is fantastic.

“It’s a fantastic achievement for everyone from the players to the management and I have to include the committee in that as well because they’ve worked tirelessly.

“No one’s been home much over the last month but this makes it all worthwhile.

“It was a great day for the club and a massive thank you to all our sponsors as well.”

Defences were on top in a goalless first half which saw Ben Percy’s effort parried away by the Minster keeper.

Ben Whyness grazed the bar in a strong start to the second half but, as Borden began to tire, the visitors threw everything at them in search of a winner.

They hit the post but the Villagers held out to win the championship in their 10th year as a Premier Division club.

Promotion isn’t on the agenda - the club don’t have the facilities for Southern Counties East - but that was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind as celebrations got into full swing.

Williams said: “If we’d been in a different situation, promotion would have been great, but it is what it is.

“We can’t go up, we’ve not got the affordability to groundshare. What we need are facilities in Sittingbourne, a 3G pitch with floodlights, which would give clubs likes ours the opportunity to progress.

“None of the players mentioned SCEFL football.

“If we defended the title next year I might have a serious job to try and keep people and get the club moving forward but it’s small steps at the end of the day.

“The club’s nearly 100 years old, with a lot of history, and one thing I’d hate to happen is to make that step to play at a higher level and end up folding because we can’t afford it.”