Chatham Town won infront of a record-breaking crowd at the Bauvill Stadium on Saturday.

Danny Leonard scored twice in the opening half for visitors Sheppey United to cancel out goals from Jack Evans and Ian Draycott.

A super strike from Evans on the hour clinched the points for Chats, watched by a crowd of 927 - a record for the Southern Counties East Football League.

Both teams were hoping to reel in leaders Beckenham Town at the top of the Premier Division and home side Chatham twice took the lead in the first half at the Bauvill Stadium.

Evans timed his run well at the far post to guide Jon Pilbeam’s low cross home after just three minutes.

A bad start for the Ites got worse as defender Chris Edwards limped off early on.

Visiting keeper Josh Pelling was forced to save from Evans and Draycott before Sheppey got back on level terms.

Leonard struck the ball well to level things up on 18 minutes but the two teams were to trade blows once again, with a cracking effort from Draycott putting Chatham back infront, albeit briefly.

The on-loan Folkestone striker lifted the ball over the defender before rifling a shot into the corner of the net.

A second goal from Leonard brought Sheppey back into the match, however, with another well hit effort after being teed up by Dan Bradshaw.

Pilbeam tried to beat the keeper from out wide late in the half but the two teams went off level at the break.

Danny Rumbol had a shot blocked early in the second half for Sheppey and Jack Evans got in the way of a powerful strike from Connor Wilkins that looked to be heading for the bottom corner.

Bradshaw headed a chance wide and home keeper Dan Ellis had to turn Harrison Carnegie’s 20-yard effort over as Sheppey continued to look more likely to score after the break.

Despite Sheppey’s bright restart, Chats got back infront as Evans sent a crisp volley beyond Pelling in the Sheppey goal with an hour gone.

Bradshaw was denied an equaliser as Ellis produced a terrific save to turn his close-range header wide.

Chatham: Ellis, Pilbeam, Sheminant, Butler (Brown 69mins), Ajayi (Roberts 38mins), Geddis, Bodkin, Evans, Vines (Jeffrey 82mins), Draycott, Dalton. Subs not used: Jarvis, Carey.

Sheppey: Pelling, Edwards (Wilkins 9mins), Benbow, Mingle (Hamici 89mins), Rumbol, Hamill, Leonard, Bradshaw, Denness (Cornwell 73mins), Bennett, Carnegie. Subs not used: Akhazzan, Ralph.

Attendance: 927