Sheppey United crashed out of the FA Cup after a battling display against Chertsey Town at Holm Park.

Sheppey’s route through to the Third Qualifying round has seen them fend off challenges from Step 5 clubs Kennington, Rusthall, Redhill and Snodland Town.

After a shaky start to the season, the Ites form has definitely picked up in recent weeks, seeing them unbeaten in their previous four league and cup matches. A run that has seen them rise up to mid-table in the early Isthmian South-East table, just three points off the play-off spots, with games in hand as well.

Chertsey Town, currently occupy sixth in the Southern Premier South after a mid-week defeat at home to Poole Town.

Their route through to this stage has seen them defeat Isthmian Premier highflyers Carshalton Athletic (after a replay), then squeak past SCEFL Premier favourites AFC Greenwich Borough, winning by the odd goal in five.

Sheppey started the match on the front foot, forcing a couple of early corners, and with Danny Leonard and D’Jean Spencer looking dangerous on each wing.

Their best opportunity of the initial exchanges came on seven minutes when a foul on the edge of the penalty area on Mohammed Dabo saw Josh Wisson step up to take the resulting free kick. But he shot straight at the Chertsey defensive wall.

The visitors had their first opportunity on the quarter hour mark.

An attacking ball forward found Seb Bowerman on the left. He cut in-field unchallenged and unleashed a rasping drive that was heading for the bottom corner, only for a great palm away from Ites stopper Harley Earle.

Chertsey continued the pressure from the resultant corner. With the ball bouncing around loose in the box, the home side were grateful to Harry Lawrence, who was in the right place to clear off the line.

Despite the visitors gaining the upper hand at this point, Sheppey wide man Leonard was still causing problems for the Chertsey defence. Twice going close following some clinical passes forward from the back.

Meanwhile at the other end, right winger Jesse Effa was creating his own problems for the home defence. Luckily Ites keeper Earle was quick to react and came out swiftly when the pacey youngster was clean through.

As the half wore on, chances were still coming at both ends.

Chertsey forward, Leo Farruch forced a good save from Earle. Then straight up the other end, Sheppey skipper Leonard broke free on the right, but he shot at Luke Wynne-Roberts in the visitor’s goal.

It was then Effa’s turn to go close. Cutting in from the right side, the Chertsey wide man seemed to run through a barrage of challenges before his deflected shot trickled just wide with Earle beaten.

The half ended with Sheppey creating havoc in the visitor’s defence following a spate of quick corners. Leonard had the final moment of the half when again he was put through, unfortunately for him, his marker managed to get back to block his attempt.

Sheppey nearly opened the scoring early in the 2nd period. A ball in from the right fell to Dylan Adjei-Hersey, but his snapshot rebounded off the post and was eventually hacked clear by the Chertsey defence.

With Sheppey in the ascendancy after the restart, they were caught out on 55 minutes by a finely crafted counterattack to concede the opening goal.

Conor Lee’s delightfully chipped ball forward over the top of the defence found Bradley Wilson, and with just Earle to beat, he exquisitely lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper and into an empty net.

With the home side now committed to pushing men forward to get back into the match, Chertsey played more and more on the counterattack.

It was Joe Grant who nearly benefitted from these quick breaks. Earle pulled off a great diving save to his right to deny him, then soon after Grant was free again, but this time shot high and wide.

Skipper Leonard was still driving the Ites forward and can consider himself unlucky after he broke the offside trap and chased a long ball forward with the on-rushing Chertsey keeper.  The coming together incensed the home support, as despite looking like a 50-50 challenge, as always in these situations, the referee came down on the side of the goalkeeper.

Soon after, the Ites captain had another great chance from a dinked ball into the area from Ben Clark. Leonard seemed to scuff his shot from close range, as the ball fell kindly into the gloves of Wynne-Roberts.

With quarter of an hour left, the home faithful were nearly rewarded with an equaliser. A great run into the penalty area from the left by Clark saw him almost at the edge on the 6-yard box. Whilst to some it may have seemed easier to take a shot, he instead squared the ball across the goal, but there was no-one there in red and white to apply the finish.

On 83 minutes, the game was affectively over.

Another quick break from the back saw Chertsey substitute Jaheim Kamara feed the ball into the danger area to Grant. An innocuous challenge came in from Ites defender Harlain Mbayo. To the shock of the majority in the crowd, the referee considered that there was enough contact to award a penalty to the visitors.

It was left to Bowerman to step up and calmly place the spot kick to Earle’s left for Chertsey’s second.

With time running out, and Sheppey committing more men forward, Chertsey continued to find space on the break. Earle twice denied Grant in injury time after he was played through with Sheppey short-handed at the back.

As the referee blew for time following a final effort on target from Clark. The home supporters, although disappointed at their teams exit from the FA Cup, can be really proud of the effort put in by the Ites. The only difference between the two sides was that the visitors possessed a little bit more quality in the final third.

Next up for Sheppey is a Kent Senior Cup tie at Sevenoaks on Wednesday (7th), followed by entertaining Hastings United in the league on Saturday (10th)

Sheppey United – Earle, Lawrence, Mbayo, Wisson, Leonard (c), Clark, Salako, Adjei-Hersey (Kabamba), Andrews (Sobhee-Turner), Dabo, Spencer (O’Neill)

Subs Unused- Ganina, Farr, Cole, Skinner

Chertsey Town – Wynne-Roberts, Fisher (c), Lodge, Casey, Bowerman, Lee (Olorunfemi), Grant, Ridgley, Farruch (Robertson), Effa (Kamara), Byrd

Subs unused – Harrison, Wilson, Glennon, Little

Attendance – 568

Referee – Morgan Conn