Sheppey United are away to Cray Valley in the Isthmian South East hoping to bounce back from defeat against Chichester City

lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 10 January 2024 | Updated: 10:41, 10 January 2024

Sheppey United might not be fancied by many to get a result on Saturday but they’ve thrived on being the underdog this season.

The Ites travel to title-chasing Cray Valley this weekend, buoyed by the knowledge that they’ve already returned home with some unexpected triumphs this season, particularly during their memorable FA Cup run.

Sheppey’s Javaun Splatt holds the ball up against Chichester on Saturday Picture: Marc Richards

Cray Valley’s own FA Cup run ended at the hands of Charlton at The Valley and they are currently attempting to chase down leaders Ramsgate.

Sheppey are one of numerous clubs vying for a play-off spot behind the leading pair and suffered their first defeat in 10 last weekend when they lost 3-1 at home to Chichester City.

Looking ahead to their weekend challenge, first team coach Geoff Record said: “We are looking forward to that and giving it our best shot against one of the top two teams in the league.

“Not a lot of people will be expecting us to get anything from the game but we have done pretty well when we’ve been the underdogs this season.

“Nobody thought we would get some of the results we did in the FA Cup and we were the underdogs going to Hythe the other day (and drawing 2-2).

“We have faced that a few times and we will be giving it a good go.”

Sheppey United striker Dan Bradshaw gets away from his man against Chichester City Picture: Marc Richards

Cray, in second, were held to a 1-1 draw at home to play-off hopefuls Lancing on Tuesday night. They remain unbeaten in their opening 16 games, eight points off leaders Ramsgate but with two games in hand.

“We know it will be really hard,” Record said. “They are a very good side and it would be fair to say it would be out of Ramsgate and them for the title.”

In their last game, against Chichester, Sheppey were leading 1-0 after just eight minutes with a goal from Connor Wilkins but City turned it around in the second half.

A quickfire double from Isaac Bello put them ahead and another goal on 90 minutes sealed the points for the visitors.

Record said: “We played reasonably well in the first half and we had chances to go two or three up, but as the game unfolded, off the back of missing those chances, they came into it a bit more and played some good football themselves.

“Early in the second half, a bit like the first 10 minutes of the match, they made another mistake at the back and we didn’t capitalise on that, with just the keeper to beat at an angle. We missed that and then a few minutes later they scored.

“They absolutely dominated us for the remainder of that second half and we can’t really complain that we got beat 3-1.

“We gave the ball away a hell of a lot and they capitalised on that. It’s a shame really, that was our first defeat in 10 and we’ve been playing some really good stuff and we have come down to earth with a bit of a bump.

“It just shows what a tough, uncompromising league it is that we play in. If you’re not quite right, then you can expect to get a defeat.”