Beaten in the Kent Senior Trophy on Sunday afternoon, Punjab United boss Chipie Sian has called on his side to channel their frustration into their final three SCEFL games this week as the Gravesend side look for a play-off place.

Reflecting on his sides two nil defeat to League Champions Whitstable Town, a clearly angry Punjab boss told us, “I don’t think that the officials helped on Sunday – I thought they were very poor – I’m annoyed that we didn’t get a clear penalty and I just do not get it, I really don’t!

“And with the second goal, he gave them a free-kick at one end which they went straight down the other end to score – it’s annoying as I didn’t think there was anything in the game!” said a clearly frustrated Punjab boss continuing, “They had a good twenty minutes but in the second half I thought we were the side asking all the questions. We had some good chances in a very even game!”

“I just felt that everything went their way decision wise – I thought the same thing (against Cockfosters) in the FA Vase – and it happened again this time!”

“We were in a tough place after losing the semi-final and have come back flying since. The boys knew that the Final was going to be a tough game that could have gone either way and we didn’t disappoint ourselves in any way.

“You have to get to a final to be in a final and it’s another proud moment for me and the Club – we had a great day; it wasn’t meant to be and now we will get ready for Tuesday.”

Tuesday sees the start of three SCEFL Premier games against Stansfeld, Hythe Town (Thursday) and a last day trip to Corinthian, where Sian and his players know that the SCEFL play-offs are there for the taking. “We have to use their anger on Sunday now,” the manager admitted.

“And the players now have to think that they will go in Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and smash them all. There is no reason why we cannot go out there and if we play like we did in the final, we will have to worry about a thing, but we know what these games are like!” Sian added guardedly with his side facing both relegated sides and fifteenth placed Corinthian.

“We’ve told them all, do whatever you want Sunday, back to work Monday and we will prepare for Tuesday. This League is never easy and it’s the best thing about the League – no one gives up! Make no mistake we have two very difficult games this week and we have to get ourselves up for it… of course if we had won the Trophy, Tuesday would have been a lot easier but now the players know what they have to do and know what I expect of them and if we do get to the Play Offs god willing, I don’t think anyone will want to play us!

“Why can’t Punjab get promoted? Why can’t we go up and get to a play-off Final? We missed out last year, the boys are still hungry, but it could still be a season where we end up “nearly-men”!”

“We don’t want that either so we will give it our best shot… I am always confident with this team and Tuesday we will come back flying… I hope we do anyway!”