Gary Lockyer got the winning goal in Ashford’s hard-fought Isthmian South East victory at injury-hit Sheppey on Saturday.

The Nuts & Bolts’ top scorer produced a typical striker’s finish just before half-time as it ended 2-1 after a goalless second period.

Lockyer’s goal came after stand-in Sheppey skipper Eitel Goueth had cancelled out the game’s opening goal from James Dunne, with the midfielder converting at the second attempt with his penalty having been saved.

Young Ashford wideman Gabe Campbell had forced a low first-minute save from goalkeeper Aiden Prall at Holm Park at the start of an entertaining 45 minutes.

Eight minutes later, midfielder Mike West gave the ball away, only for away keeper Mitchell Beeney to thwart forward Zion McLeod.

A flurry of opportunities then saw visiting left-back Matt Bodkin and home man David Johnson hit the target on a cold afternoon.

The last thing Ernie Batten’s depleted side needed was to be forced into an early change - but that’s exactly what happened, Jordy Ndozid hobbling off. He was replaced by Oluwadamilola Olorunnisumo in the 12th minute.

Bodkin again went close when he curled inches wide of Prall’s left-hand post for the Nuts & Bolts.

But Danny Kedwell’s troops did go ahead in front of a crowd of 434 on 18 minutes. Referee Michael Scott ruled Gil Carvalho had fouled Campbell and, while Dunne was denied from the spot by Prall, the 35-year-old stroked home the rebound for his fourth goal of the season.

Sheppey full-back Mamadou Diallo got in behind the defence but his effort didn’t have enough on it to beat Beeney.

The hosts did equalise in the 28th minute, though, as a swift counter-attack resulted in Jacob Lambert crossing from the left for midfielder Goueth at the back post. He nodded in for his fourth goal this term.

With the Ites’ tails now up, playmaker Lambert flashed an effort across goal on the half-hour mark before Carvalho curled a shot against the crossbar.

West sent a long-range strike over at the other end in the 41st minute and Campbell did likewise with a right-wing shot.

But the Nuts & Bolts scored again at the start of three minutes of first-half stoppage time. A mix-up between home defenders Joe Tyrie and Lekan Majoyegbe presented Lockyer with just enough space to expertly lob Prall for his 20th goal of the campaign.

Jack Saunders came on for veteran Dorking loanee defender Barry Fuller at right-back in an away half-time substitution.

Four minutes after the interval, Louis Collins failed to hit the target from Ashford team-mate Lockyer’s lay-off, albeit there was a slower pace to the match in the second half.

Lockyer went down under a challenge from substitute Olorunnisumo on the hour, only for Mr Scott to book the striker for diving rather than give the visitors a second penalty.

Five minutes later, Ashford saw their appeals Prall had carried a corner over his own goal-line, having caught the ball under pressure, fall on death ears.

Sheppey came close to a leveller with 18 minutes to play when Carvalho’s in-swinging cross just evaded Lambert and Beeney’s left-hand post after appeals from debutant defender Ronnie Vint that substitute Dan Bradshaw had been offside waved away.

Prall made himself big to prevent Lockyer from getting his second and his team’s third to put the result beyond doubt.

The hosts’ best chance to get a second equaliser in normal time came in the 87th minute. Lambert won the ball off substitute Noah Carney and crossed from the left but Johnson - somehow - stabbed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Carney failed to hit the target from a clever Lockyer back-heel during five minutes of injury time.

At the other end, a right-wing delivery fell for Lambert. But he volleyed wide and Sheppey were denied a leveller they had perhaps deserved in the circumstances.

Ninth-placed Ashford - who have won six of their last eight league games - are six points behind the Ites, in sixth, having played one league fixture more.

Vint, who had made a single appearance for Margate this season after his stint on reality TV show Love Island, came straight into the Ashford team. He replaced player-assistant Dean Beckwith in the heart of the defence.

Skipper Danny Leonard was among those to miss out for the injury-hit hosts alongside Hanson Itauma, James Taylor and Victor Aiyebula.

In their place came debutant duo McLeod and Johnson, with Ndozid and Harry Hogben also called into action.

There was a one-minute silence ahead of kick-off in memory of Joules Smith. The six-year-old from Sheppey died on Monday morning of incurable cancer.

The Ites are at Deal while Ashford play host to strugglers Phoenix Sports next weekend.

Sheppey United: Prall, Majoyegbe, Tyrie, Goueth, Lambert, Carvalho, McLeod (Bradshaw 61mins), Diallo, Ndozid (Olorunnisumo 12mins, Maciocia 85mins) Johnson, Hogben (Opoku 89mins). Sub not used: Taylor.

Ashford United: Beeney, Fuller (Saunders 46mins), Jonah, Moses, West, Vint, Dunne, Bodkin (Carney 61mins), Collins, Lockyer, Campbell. Subs not used: Beckwith, Berry, Christmas.

Referee: Michael Scott.

Attendance: 434.