Sevenoaks Town clinched the SCEFL Challenge Cup with a win over Sheppey United.

Harrison Carnegie put Sevenoaks ahead with a third minute strike in Saturday’s final.

Billy Bennett all-but sealed the cup win with Sevenoaks’ second on 78 minutes.

Sevenoaks had beaten the top two teams in the Southern Counties East, Premier Division to make it to the final, which was played at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead Stadium.

With a third place finish in the table, they went into Saturday’s match favourites, against a Sheppey side who ended their first campaign at the higher level with a sixth placed finish.

Sheppey failed to make the most of a trio of early corners and it was Sevenoaks who struck the opening blow. Kieron McCann got to the touchline and stood up a cross for Carneigie, who curled home the early opener.

Sheppey were on the defensive for the early stages of the half and their best chance fell at the feet of Dan Bradshaw but before he could pull the trigger, Tom Ripley slid in with a great block.

It was Ripley who then almost made it 2-0 moments later, with a header that Dean Warford did well to fingertip over his bar. Sheppey defender Rob Saunders put in a well timed challenge to deny the dangerous McCann.

Sheppey had penalty claims turned down early in the second half when Timmy Babbington’s cross hit the arm of Ripley. Referee Kane Dempster wasn’t interested.

Ripley continued to be a threat for Sevenoaks from set pieces, heading another good chance that struck the bar, with keeper Warford getting a touch.

Sheppey threw caution to the wind with 20 minutes left, throwing on an extra forward in Lee Friend, but it wasn’t long before they were chasing a two-goal deficit.

Billy Bennett struck home at the second attempt with 12 minutes remaining to put Sevenoaks 2-0 ahead.

Byron Walker put a good chance over the bar for Sevenoaks late in the game and Yacine Gnahore shot wildly over with just a few minutes left on the clock.

Sheppey struggled to threaten upfront, despite the extra striker, with Sevenoaks taking the honours.

Sevenoaks: French, Edwards, Benbow, Gnahore, Ripley, Holder, Carnegie (Camacho 79mins), Bingham (Rogers 81mins), Walker, Bennett, McCann. Subs not used: Brown, Miles, Nicholls.

Sheppey: Warford, Huggins, Miller-Neave, Denny (Friend 72mins), Saunders, G Batten, I Batten, Babbington (Pagett 79mins), Fornah (Gransden 90mins), Atkins, Bradshaw.

Attendance: 744.