Sheppey United grabbed their first league win of the season against a strong Whitstable Town side at the Tiger Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Sheppey started the stronger with Rob Saunders having a shot blocked by Craig Thompson and John Ralph screwing a header just wide. On the right hand side Enoch Adjei was a constant threat and one menacing ball across the middle of the goal mouth should have been converted.

Whitstable keeper Dan Eason pulled of a superb save after intially rushing out of his goal with the resulting loose ball finding Timmy Babbington who lobbed a shot at the empty goal only for the keeper to rush back and save the shot that was hit from 35 yards, impressive work from the Whitstable keeper.

A goal finally came via the dangerous Adeji, converting after scrambled shots and fumbles in the Whitstable goal mouth, much to the delight of the Ites fans.

For their part, there was no Whitstable shot on goal in the first half to trouble the home keeper Dean Warford.

Half time 1-0

The second half was a tighter affair but the grit and determination from Sheppey continued to flow. James Simmons was enjoying his new role of playing through the middle and when he broke clear of the Whitstable defence he should have put Sheppey further ahead but failed to convert.

The Ites were to be truley tested when key defender Rob Saunders received his second yellow card and left Sheppey to defend their lead with ten men.

John Ralph and his fellow defenders held firm to deny Whitstable who included the very quiet ex-Ites midfielder Darren Marsden in their ranks.

Dean Warford saved well from a corner on 75 minutes with the resulting break eventually finding Tim Babbington who went close at the other end of the pitch.

Sheppey’s new forward Matthew Gething hit the post late on with the Ites holding out for a well deserved victory.

Full time 1-0

Sheppey: Warford, Okundayia, Harrold, Saunders, Ralph, Batten, Adjei, Simmons, Gething, Batten (c), Babington

Subs: Huggins, Bell, Zydelis, Winch

Whitstable: Eason (c), Punton, Wraight, Lee, Healy, Brown, Treadwell, Collado, Thompson, Marsden, Rowland

Subs: Quain, Smith, Rodgers, Brown, Brooks

Officials: D Doyle, H Ahmed, R Andrews

Attendance: 315