Sheppey United’s management will be looking for big improvements this weekend when the league leaders visit the island.

A disappointing performance at Littlehampton on Saturday led to a 3-1 defeat, a second successive loss. Table-topping Ramsgate head to Holm Park this Saturday and there will be new faces in the squad.

Sheppey have announced the arrival of former Gillingham midfielder Josh Chambers, joining them from Chatham Town, and have also signed young Leyton Orient defender Aaron Archibald.

Chambers, 21, spent a brief time at Chatham after spells with the likes of Folkestone Invicta and Welling United.

He made his Football League debut for the Gills at Doncaster and his first start at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, earning himself a trial at Tottenham.

Chambers will now be hoping to make his mark with The Ites.

Manager Ernie Batten told the club: “Josh, albeit still young, has got good experience at National League South level and of course had his introduction to senior football through the Gills having come from their youth system and gives us another great option and competition in midfield.”

Orient centre-half Archibald joins for an initial month-long loan.

General manager Lee Allen said: “This will be a great experience for Aaron and we look forward to him getting out on the pitch.”

Reacting to last weekend’s defeat, assistant boss Geoff Record said: “It was a tough day for us. It was a very disappointing performance from the lads.

“We can’t afford to put a slack performance in against Ramsgate or we will be in all sorts of trouble.

“We were well beaten by them last time.

“The lads will regroup during the week and get back on track in our preparation for Saturday.

“They’re top of the league for a reason and those top-four sides deserve to be there. Everyone else is trying to chase them down and we just have to stick in there.”

Sheppey remain in a battle for fifth but with their rivals having games in hand, the likes of Beckenham Town and Merstham will have their hopes raised.

The Ites were without talisman striker Dan Bradshaw last weekend due to severe bruising following an impact injury. He’s a doubt for the visit of Ramsgate.

Fellow striker Dan Carr is back in light training but captain Danny Leonard hasn’t returned yet and playmaker Jacob Lambert isn’t close to a return.

Record said: “We have done so well to hang in there but the injuries are catching up with us now.

“You can’t get away from the fact that we have three full-backs in the back four and it’s starting to hurt us, we’re leaking goals and the likes of Dan Bradshaw, Jacob, Dan Carr and Danny Leonard, these players can win you games. It’s starting to bite us.”

Sheppey did have a new face in squad against Littlehampton.

Gillingham youth player Jimmy Heasman came off the bench in the second half and combined with Gil Carvalho to get Sheppey’s only goal of the game.

Record said: “He became available and he was recommended to us by the Gills. We are quite thin with the squad and we were like ‘why not?’

“He looks like he has a bit of pace and he linked up well with Gil for our goal.”

Sheppey also have a new face helping the backroom team as young coach Ira Jackson has joined the ranks.

Jackson left Folkestone Invicta at the end of January after a second playing spell at the club where he scored 54 goals in 130 appearances.

He’s keen to further his coaching career, having already done one-to-one training and has spent time working with the under-23s at Corinthian.

He announced his move to Sheppey on social media, writing on X: “What an eight months it’s been at Corinthian with the 23s.

“Lessons have been learned, players have been developed and a team have been formed.

“Now for a progression in my coaching career.”

Jackson has played for numerous Kent teams and had a season in the Football League with Grimsby Town.

Record has welcomed the 28-year-old in, saying: “I am probably a bit old school and there is still a bit of room for that but I am really happy he has come to help with training and any support he needs from me, he’s got it.”

Sheppey have said that Jackson will be coaching the first team on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

*Sheppey’s Holm Park hosts Gillingham under-17s on Tuesday night in the club’s Floodlight Cup quarter-final match against AFC Wimbledon. It’s free entry with gates open from 6pm.