Sheppey won the Southern Counties East League Premier Division title thanks to Warren Mfula's hat-trick on Saturday.

A record crowd at Holm Park of 1,282 saw the Ites get the victory they needed to pip Chatham to the title - despite both sides breaking through the 100-point barrier.

Chatham won at Erith Town but that proved irrelevant on the day as Ernie Batten's Sheppey, as expected, got the job done in front of their home fans.

It was a party atmosphere for Sheppey, and rightly so given they've only lost twice in the league all season.

But Tower Hamlets belied their league position - and goal difference - by proving stubborn opponents in the opening half-hour.

Sheppey had their chances, Billy Bennett's early shot was blocked, Liam Gillies' 25-yard shot was tipped over by the keeper and Richie Hamill saw his effort saved by the keeper's legs.

Any worries that Sheppey had were put to bed once they opened the scoring on 37 minutes. Mfula closed down the keeper's clearance and had the simplest of tasks to slam the ball into an empty net.

Mfula nearly added a second on the stroke of half-time after a one-two with Bennett but was denied by the keeper.

Sheppey lost Bennett to injury early in the second half but they doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half. Mfula exchanged passes with Gillies and worked his way into the penalty area before slotting home.

Injuries to Hamlets disrupted the flow of the second half but Sheppey didn't complain. albeit it took the fans until the hour mark to start the 'Championes' song.

Mfula should have handed substitute Michael Hagan the third goal on a plate but ignored a square pass and then saw his shot kept out.

Substitute Helge Orome was twice denied but Sheppey rounded off a brilliant league campaign with a third goal in the 89th minute, Mfula heading in Hagan's cross from close-range after a quickly-taken free-kick caught Hamlets napping.

Having won the Kent Senior Trophy twice this season, Sheppey now aim to complete an unprecedented quadruple on Bank Holiday Monday when they face Crowborough in the league's Challenge Cup final at Chatham.

It's Sheppey's first league title since the 1994/95 season when they won the old Kent League under the management of John Roseman.

• Batten: It's an amazing achievement

Sheppey: Molloy, Birch, Sains, Howlett-Mundle, Tenyue, Gillies, Bennett (Hagan 50mins), Hamill (Orome 68mins), Aibangbee, Mfula, Grant (Wilkins 77mins). Subs not used: Dasofunjo, Oldham.

Attendance: 1,282.