Report: Ites FA Cup journey ends against higher-division opponents

Sheppey United’s FA Cup journey for the season ended at the hands of higher-division Chertsey Town on Saturday.

With the third qualifying round tie goalless at half-time, first-half substitute Bradley Wilson broke the deadlock before Seb Bowerman converted a penalty as it finished 2-0 at Holm Park to Town who - by their own admission - were below-par.

Chertsey debutant Jesse Effa had only narrowly avoided a caution inside the first two minutes as he caught the impressive centre-half Harlain Mbayo in midfield.

Backed by a healthy away contingent, they first threatened when goalkeeper Harley Earle was called into action as he tipped wide midfielder Bowerman’s 15th-minute shot before right-back Harry Lawrence hacked off the line from the resultant corner.

Isthmian South East United - who had already seen off Kennington (6-2), Rusthall (3-0), Redhill (2-1) and Snodland Town (1-0) under joint-bosses Ian Batten and George Batten to reach this stage - again went close midway through the first period. The recalled D’Jean Spencer fired into the side-netting from a cross by skipper Danny Leonard after Mbayo’s clever turn.

There were then opportunities at either end as Earle got down low after an in-swinging right-wing cross by Conor Lee had caused problems. Leonard burst clean through on goal at the other end, albeit keeper Luke Wynne-Roberts stayed big to deny him.

The visitors had optimistic penalty protests turned down by referee Morgan Conn in the 37th minute when a long-range effort allegedly crashed against the hand of Josh Wisson before Wynne-Roberts got down to thwart Spencer at the other end.

Southern League Premier Division South high-fliers Town were forced into a first-half change as Wilson was brought on for the injured Wayne Ridgley.

Five minutes after the restart, Dylan Adjei-Hersey hit Wynne-Roberts’ left-hand post for the home side from a Leonard lay-off, with the latter having been found by a superb pass from midfielder Cameron Andrews.

But Sheppey were cruelly undone on 54 minutes. Makeshift centre-back Wisson found himself under a high ball and Wilson remained calm to lob Earle.

Midway through the half, Earle did well to deny Effa a debut goal while striker Joe Grant lofted over with the loose ball.

Home penalty protests were turned down for handball as former Dartford winger Leonard attempted to find space.

With nine minutes left and the Ites pushing forward, Chertsey defender Lachlan Byrd got a vital touch on Adjei-Hersey’s low left-wing delivery.

It was the visitors that got the game’s all-important second goal two minutes later, however, with Bowerman able to convert from the spot and Mbayo booked for his protests.

Wilson could have even added an injury-time third for Chertsey but Earle made an excellent save.

There was still time for midfielder Ben Clark to try his luck at the other end, although Wynne-Roberts made a save with virtually the final kick of the game.

United’s only change from the team that secured a 2-1 league home success against Peacehaven & Telscombe last weekend saw seven-goal top scorer Spencer come in for midfielder Jack Palmby.

Young forward Effa, whose arrival from National League South side Hemel Hempstead was revealed on the morning of the tie, was among those in the visitors’ starting line-up.

The Ites return to league matters at early high-fliers Hastings United next weekend but, before then, will be at Sevenoaks in the Kent Senior Cup on Wednesday evening.

Sheppey United: Earle, Lawrence, Mbayo, Wisson, Leonard, Clark, Salako, Adjei-Hersey (Kabamba 95mins), Andrews (Sobhee-Turner 86mins), Dabo, Spencer (O’Neill 89mins). Subs not used: Ganiwa, Farr, Skinner, Cole.

Chertsey Town: Roberts, Fisher, Lodge, Casey, Bowerman, Lee (Olorunfemi 86mins), Grant, Ridgley (Wilson 43mins), Farruch (Robertson 86mins), Effa (Kamara 76mins), Byrd. Subs not used: Harrison, Glennon, Little.