Sheppey United’s narrow defeat to Beckenham Town leaves their play-off hopes looking like a long-shot.

Assistant boss Geoff Record is realistic about their play-off chances in Isthmian South East after the 1-0 loss but remains proud of the team’s efforts to have taken the fight into the latter stage of the season.

In-form striker Louie Theophanous scored the only goal of the game at Eden Park Avenue, a result that left the Ites 10 points off the top five, having played more games than their rivals.

“It was always going to be tough against Beckenham and it was,” Record said.

“We didn't expect anything else but that game was very finely balanced, there wasn’t a lot in it and there weren’t a great deal of chances.

“Either goalkeeper probably made two saves each.

“We came under a bit of pressure which you would expect there but we actually took the pressure pretty well. We deserved a point.”

Gil Carvalho went close for the Ites in the first half after good work out wide by Jimmy Heasman, who had half a chance himself in the second half but couldn’t get power behind a shot from close range. There was another opportunity that was scrambled clear.

The goal that Sheppey conceded was a disappointment as a series of errors led to what turned out to be the winner, firstly conceding what Record felt was a needless free-kick.

He said: “We went from no danger to danger because they’ve got lads who can deliver that ball. They put it in on us. We tried to get it away.

“It only went to the edge of the box and I was very disappointed we had nobody there to put in any sort of worthwhile challenge. That’s a vital area.

“One of their players brought it into the box, kind of scuffed it to Louis and we’ve left him unmarked. I’m not kidding you, I could have knocked that in.”

Reflecting on the loss, Record added: “It’s a real long shot now for that fifth place.

“You’ve got to be realistic, haven’t you?

“But we can’t forget, and I told the boys this after the game, from August to the first week in March, we’ve been in the top six all season and really that’s a credit to them and the football club, because with what’s happened off the pitch, certainly over the recent last couple of months.

“To have been in the top six with a club like Sheppey, only in their third season at this level, with the funds that have been made available to me and Ernie, I think it’s very commendable.

“Unfortunately, anyone who’s been in football knows, winning becomes very much a habit and when you get on a losing streak like we are, unfortunately the same rules apply.

“All we can do is dig in and try and win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season.”

Injuries have been a bit problem for the Ites and they had their captain Danny Leonard back on Saturday after two months out injured, making an appearance off the bench after 65 minutes.

Record said: “It’s nice to get him back. Dan is one of the better players in the league.

“He brings quality. To be quite honest, we’ve had our chances in games, and we haven’t had the quality to be clinical, really during that poor run.

“We’ve been conceding a lot of goals, but the last two games, myself and Ira (Jackson, the coach) have made a big effort to try and eliminate that.

“We should have had another clean sheet on Saturday but we just made three mistakes in one phase.”

Sheppey are away to Ashford United this Saturday.