Three Bridges 7-1 Sheppey United - Our fans have got a right to be annoyed, it's humbling and we need to learn from it but now is not the time to have a lengthy conversation about it, says dejected Sheppey United boss Kevin Watson

Three Bridges 7 – 1 Sheppey United
Location	Jubilee Walk, Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1LQ
Kickoff	09/09/2025 19:45

THREE BRIDGES  7-1  SHEPPEY UNITED
Isthmian League South East Division
Tuesday 9 September 2025
Stephen McCartney reports from Jubilee Field

DEJECTED Sheppey United manager Kevin Watson apologised to the travelling fans after suffering a humiliating defeat to a hungrier Three Bridges side.

 

Jamie Crellin’s high-voltage team have climbed up four places into the top-four in the Isthmian League South East Division (nine points from four games), while Sheppey United have slipped down to thirteenth (six points from four) after capitulating in embarrassing fashion, conceding six second half goals.

Sheppey United grabbed the lead through striker Rolando Onu’s tenth goal of the season, before Three Bridges restored parity with striker Noel Leighton finishing off a well-worked move, in front of a sparse crowd of 128 at Jubilee Field.

Watson lost centre-half Lex Allan (groin) and left-back Archie Johnson (ankle) and once the impressive Hayden Velvick drilled in the home side’s second just five minutes into the second half, Sheppey United’s lack of strength-in-depth was laid bare as things got embarrassing for the Kent side after the hour-mark.

Leighton scored twice more to score a hat-trick, Reece Wellard scored a couple to take his tally to 10 for the season, before striker Ben Holden came off the bench to notch a stoppage time penalty.

“I thought they (Three Bridges) were brilliant. I thought they were the best team we’ve played by a country mile,” said Watson, during the 10 and a half minute post-match inquest.

“I felt for 15 minutes, I felt they were on top of the game and we struggled to get to grips with it.  We also for half-an-hour, I thought we were good and then maybe probably we scored when they was on top of the game and they scored when we was on top of the game up until half-time and then second half was extremely poor, hence the scoreline.”

When asked about his side’s awful second-half performance, Watson replied: “Just real basics.  Players not doing their job. Us not doing our job as a management team.  We’ve got to be accountable. You can’t manage a team that lose like that and shirk responsibilities, so we’re equally accountable.

“Naturally, we had some injuries and had to make some changes and change the system with depleted numbers but that’s absolutely no excuse. I expect to be able to put any player, any formation out there and get more than we did in the second half.”

Three Bridges came out with all guns blazing and Sheppey United just couldn’t live with their game-plan of showing desire all over the pitch to swiftly win the ball and playing with a bolt of electricity running through their bodies.

Referee Callum Parke awarded Three Bridges a penalty when right-winger Velvick cut in from the right and was brought down by Johnson (2:57).

Reece Hallard stroked his right-footed penalty straight down the middle and goalkeeper Adam Molloy made a comfortable save, holding the ball low to his right (3:56).

“They was on top of the game and their movement was very good and a bit naïve for us to concede a penalty,” admitted Watson.

“Not just Archie, there was things over the pitch where people weren’t getting tight enough, but yes (it was) a good save from Adam.”

The home side often played out from the back and centre-half Samuel Bull often rolled the ball back towards his goalkeeper Samuel Roberts.

The home side called Molloy into making a diving save (12:13) when Reece Hallard played the ball along the deck, Bryan Villavicencio played a reverse pass to play in attacking midfielder Charlie Bennett, who shaped to shoot, right-footed towards the bottom far corner, only for Molloy to dive to his left and use a strong left hand to push towards safety.

Three Bridges were dominating the middle of the park, with Eitel Moumi-Goueth, Billy Bennett and David Opoku losing the battle, as Three Bridges’ players played with more intensity, heart and desire.

“I thought they were dynamic. I thought their patterns were good. I thought they were hungry, they kept the ball. They won their individual battles really, all over the pitch – in the second half,” said Watson, when asked about Three Bridges’ threats.

“The first half was relatively even. The scoreline at half-time reflected the first half.”

When asked whether Three Bridges ‘were hungrier than his side’ Watson admitted: “It seemed that way, definitely seemed that way. I think that’s an objective way of looking at it.”

Allan travelled towards the centre-circle before playing a through ball past Three Bridges’ often high-line and winger Danny Leonard skipped past the onrushing Roberts, used his left-foot to poke the ball into the penalty area but his left-footed shot was blocked by Josh Hallard, as the left-back got back with a team-mate to clear his lines before the ball got closer to the goal-line.

“We had some chances though in the first half, other than the goal we scored,” highlighted Watson.

“Danny’s (Leonard) done ok tonight. I didn’t think he done a lot wrong. It’s difficult, he’s gone round the goalkeeper on his weaker side and they got back and defended the ball.”

However, the frenetic nature of this Tuesday night fixture in Crawley, saw Sheppey United being gifted the lead, with 19 minutes and 59 seconds on the clock.

Winger Danny Leonard went to press close to the half-way line in the build-up, before Bull played one of countless back passes towards his goalkeeper, but this time Onu intercepted the pass, skipped past Roberts, who had charged out of his penalty area and from 25-yards kept composed to roll his right-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner of an empty goal.

“If I’m being really positive, I go it’s a good press from us, rather than a gift.  If I’m going to be ultra negative about things, in all fairness, we got our press right in that situation and he’s gone wide and it’s a great finish from that angle,” said Watson.

Onu played a through ball from the edge of the centre-circle in between the home side’s two centre-halves to put Leonard through on goal but his left-footed shot was blocked by the legs of Roberts as he dived to frustrate the Sheppey United winger in the 34^th minute.

Three Bridges’ right-back Daniel Ferreria cracked a right-footed angled drive from outside the penalty area, which was comfortably saved by Molloy, low down beside his near-post.

Three Bridges produced a well-worked move to equalise with 40 minutes and 15 seconds on the clock.

Bull used his left-foot to pass to Reece Hallard (who was operating down the left for the first time) and he played a fine reverse pass to feed Josh Hallard, who got in behind Sheppey’s right-back Oluwadamilola Olorunnisomo, to whip in a fine first-time pass towards the back post where Leighton swept his left-footed half-volley across Molloy, bouncing into the bottom far corner from 12-yards.

“Yes, it was a good ball and a good finish. Obviously disappointing from our perspective.  Like I say, during that phase, I felt we had control of the game but then we got undone by a good goal,” added Watson.

Three Bridges won the corner-count by eight-to-five and Josh Hallard recycled the ball back into the box where centre-half Hayden Neathey found space at the far post to meet the deep cross with his head, looping over the crossbar.

“We spoke a little bit about their movement and what was causing us issues and also how we would press them and it goes out of the window and then Archie comes off and we have to re-arrange things and change shape,” said Watson, who was asked about losing a couple of his back four, which played a big part in the outcome of this eighth-tier game.

“They’re struggling like, neither (Allan and Johnson) could continue. We tried to get through with Archie but it was clear at the beginning of the second half that we didn't want to do more damage.  We’re carrying a really small squad anyway and we’ve got depleted numbers so probably be in a worse situation at this point, so we’ll have to have a think about.”

Tamas Amgbaduba replaced Allan at the interval, while Johnson was still feeling the affects of Josh Hallard’s 39^th minute challenge and hobbled off seconds after the home side scored their second goal, timed at four minutes and 33 seconds on the clock, following their third corner of the night.

Holding midfielder Abdul Adeyinka made a decoy run along the by-line towards the corner taker but Josh Hallard opted to go long and swing in his left-footed right-wing corner into the goal-mouth.

Molloy punched the ball away and the ball came out towards the edge of the D where 19-year-old former Tonbridge Angels winger Velvick drilled a clinical right-footed half-volley through a crowd of players into the bottom right-hand corner.

“Disappointing because we’ve dealt with the initial corner, right, and it’s when it comes out we’re not quick enough to close the ball down. It’s a good goal from their perspective. It’s a soft goal from our perspective,” added Watson.

Watson was forced into a tactical change and went with three at the back with Olorunnisomo (right), half-time sub Tamas Amgbaduba (centre) and Tyler Hatton (left) and Hatton was often exposed and left open the gate as Three Bridges ran riot.

Sheppey United’s talisman striker Daniel Bradshaw came off the bench for Johnson and was denied by a fine save from Roberts in the 56^th minute.

Leonard rolled the ball in from the right to Amgbaduba, who fed Billy Bennett, who reversed the pass to Bradshaw, who drilled a low left-footed shot towards the bottom far corner and Roberts dived to his left and used his left-hand to make a big save.

Watson said: “He had a really good chance at 2-1. Dan’s driven from Manchester to be at the game tonight, he’s absolutely fully committed. He was trying to make things happen.

“I feel sorry for him in a sense. He’s coming on in a game like that and he’s played almost a half of football when we’ve been on the receiving end there.”

Three Bridges scored their third goal with 15 minutes and 9 seconds on the clock, with Velvick playing his part.

He cut in from the left and slipped the ball through to Reece Hallard, whose shot stung Molloy’s fingers and he wasn’t able to hold and Leighton took a touch before stabbing the ball over the line from inside the six-yard box.

“I can’t go through all of the goals, I’ll have to watch them back. It’s a bit of a blur at this moment in time, so I won’t be able to comment on any more goals, not out of ignorance or frustration. It’s just not in my mind at this moment in time,” came Watson’s strange reply.

Sheppey United assistant manager Tommy Osborne called out and asked ‘for a bit of character’ while standing up within the away technical area at this stage of the game.

The Ites’ failed to show any character and went on to give us one of Sheppey United’s worst nights in their history.

It went downhill fast and it was painful to watch!

Three Bridges made it 4-1 with 17 minutes and 18 seconds on the clock when the woeful Hatton lost the ball to a hungry Charlie Bennett in midfield, who won the ball off Hatton at the second attempt.

Charlie Bennett released Velvick down the right in oceans of space (as Hatton was now out of position) and he put in a cross for an unmarked Reece Hallard at the back post, who swept his right-footed shot into the left-hand corner.

When asked what he wanted from his side at this point of proceedings, Watson replied: “Just pride really for Sheppey United, some accountability. To be brave to try to make things happen, to get on the ball, none of which at this moment in time, we got.

“We’ll go back, watch the game collectively as a team, certainly the goals and try to improve.”

Amgbaduba launched a long throw into the Three Bridges penalty area (his first ot two), Roberts punched the ball away and Billy Bennett still searches for his first goal this season, dragging his right-footed shot across the keeper and past the left-hand post from 16-yards.

Molloy was at fault for Three Bridges’ fifth goal, when it was gift-wrapped with 23 minutes and 44 seconds on the clock, following the home side’s eighth corner.

Josh Hallard whipped in a quality delivery from the right, Molloy’s poor punch dropped to Leighton, who accepted the gift by nodding the ball into the bottom near-corner from a tight angle.

When asked what the 26-year-old former Tonbridge Angels striker brings to the party, Watson replied: “How many goals did he score? He’s a goal threat right, he scored three goals tonight. I don’t really know. I’m not looking at individuals of the opposition too much but clearly he’s a good player, he’s an experience player and he’s scored three goals.”

Moumi-Goueth launched a long ball forward, the ball was knocked down by Bradshaw inside the Three Bridges penalty area and Billy Bennett left-footed volley flashed past the left upright again.

The woeful Opoku gave the ball away while trying to play out  from the back and Velvick intercepted and put it on a plate for Leighton at the back-post but Molloy grabbed hold of the ball to prevent the ball nestling inside the bottom left-hand corner.

But Molloy was beaten for a sixth time, with 30 minutes and 23 seconds on the clock, when central midfielder Villavicencio teed up the clinical Reece Hallard, who drilled his first-time shot into the bottom left-hand corner, leaving Molloy rooted to the spot.

When it was suggested that his players’ lost the midfield battle, Watson replied: “I don’t think it’s that simple, ok. I think we lost lots of battles over the pitch. I can’t at this moment in time pinpoint one thing. I think there’s too many factors.”

Sheppey United just couldn’t live with Three Bridges’ extremy high intensity and Hassan Ibrahiym (who went missing during the second half) fouled Josh Hallard as he cut into the box and Molloy was sent the wrong way by Holden’s right-footed penalty, which he drove into the bottom left-hand corner, three minutes and 15 seconds into stoppage time.

Sheppey United’s players went up to their travelling supporters to shake their hands after the final whistle to apologise and will have some soul-searching to do before Saturday’s trip to eighth-placed Sevenoaks Town.

Watson said: “You feel dejected. The players’ are going to feel dejected. Fans’ are going to be frustrated, some of them have travelled a long way to be here tonight to see that performance and scoreline. It’s not what they deserve, so we’ll go back to the drawing board on Saturday.

“They’re a very good team, right, and they’ll do very well this season if they carry on playing like that. They’re the best team we’ve played this season but we need to be able to progress, to be able to match.

“They (our fans) need to keep the faith, obviously on behalf of everyone, including myself, we apologise.  No fans should have to travel, or even if it’s a home game, we don’t want…. I think we’re all football fans aren’t we, whether we support Premier League teams or our local club and you get frustrated when we don’t see good enough performances, so they’ve got a right to be annoyed.

“It’s humbling, we need to learn from it. It’s still early in the season, hopefully we can (learn from this) and improve.

“We haven’t had a scoreline like that since we’ve been managing the club, so we hope it doesn’t become a regular occurrence, we’ll see, back to the drawing board.

“Right at this moment in time, I’m not thinking about (Saturday’s game at Sevenoaks Town).  I’ve still got to digest this evening but we’ll have a chat on the way home, myself and Tommy (Osborne) and then we’ll prepare for that from Thursday onwards.

“The boys were quiet (in the dressing room afterwards), as expected, but look, now is not the time to have a lengthy conversation about it. We’ll do that with clearer heads on Thursday.”

Three Bridges: Samuel Roberts, Daniel Ferreria, Josh Hallard, Abdul Adeyinka (Harvey Woollard 87), Samuel Bull, Hayden Neathey, Reece Hallard (Noel Fisher 77), Bryan Villavicencio, Noel Leighton (Ben Holden 83), Charlie Bennett (Kevin Rivera 70), Hayden Velvick.
Sub: William Irving

Goals: Noel Leighton 41, 61, 69, Hayden Velvick 50, Reece Hallard 63, 76, Ben Holden 90 (penalty)

Booked: Bryan Villavicencio 37, Josh Hallard 39, Noel Leighton 80

Sheppey United: Adam Molloy, Oluwadamilola Olorunnisomo, Archie Johnson (Daniel Bradshaw 52), David Opoku, Lex Allan (Tamas Amgbaduba 46), Tyler Hatton, Hassan Ibrahiym, Eitel Moumi-Goueth, Rolando Onu, Billy Bennett, Danny Leonard.
Subs: Tommy Linkson, Kian Downey

Goal: Rolando Onu 20

Booked: Eitel Moumi-Goueth 34, Oluwadamilola Olorunnisomo 66

Attendance: 128
Referee: Mr Callum Parke
Assistants: Mr Matthew Dyson & Mr Wayne Pocock
Observer:  Mr Timothy Lawrence