Merstham 1-1 Sheppey United - Success will be to get a play-off position and that's what we'll be working towards, says Sheppey United manager Ernie Batten

Merstham 1 – 1 Sheppey United
Location	Moatside Stadium, Weldon Way, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3QB
Kickoff	15/10/2024 19:45

MERSTHAM  1-1  SHEPPEY UNITED
Isthmian League South East Division
Tuesday 15 October 2024
Stephen McCartney reports from Weldon Way

SHEPPEY UNITED manager Ernie Batten says his players’ didn’t actually come up with the goods tonight after coming away from Merstham with a hard earned point.
 

The Ites suffered their first Isthmian League South East Division defeat of the season at the weekend, losing 5-0 at Ramsgate, but Batten felt he got a reaction from his side at Weldon Way.

Sheppey United took a seventh minute lead with a well-worked move that was finished off by left-winger Dadigildo Carvalho, 27, but Jamie Decruz’s side levelled just seven minutes later through Lee Lewis’ emphatic direct free-kick.

Batten made three changes to the side that lost to Ben Smith’s side so heavily at the weekend, while right-back Oluwadamilola Olorunnisumo remained on the sidelines with a knee injury, while Gillingham loanee, Harry Bridle also didn’t travel to Surrey because he was rested due to a recent hamstring injury.

Merstham were held to a 1-1 draw by newly-promoted side Erith Town seven days ago, before being held to a 2-2 draw at the weekend here against Burgess Hill Town, as tonight’s draw means Merstham have extended their unbeaten run to five games.

“I’m frustrated that we haven’t taken the points,” said Batten.

“I think it’s a good point away from home.  There’s no easy games in this league. It’s a tough, tough league and having had a great start to the game, I thought we were really on the front foot and really creative and had a couple of opportunities, got the goal and it was so disappointing to concede that goal because it was our own doing.

“It was a couple of errors there leading up to it and we gave a silly free-kick away.  One of our lads tried to knock it back, it was too short and we gone in and fouled and they got a free-kick and they’ve knocked it through our wall, so I was disappointed with that.

“But overall, I thought it was a decent performance.  We were trying to win the game. We’re always going to go out and win these games against a side that I thought were very dogged, defended well.

“I don’t know how many times they cleared that near post from our crosses. I thought it was stuck to his foot, the number five or six.

“It was having that cutting edge in the last third, perhaps, if there is a criticism, we didn’t actually come up with the goods tonight.”

When asked whether he got a reaction from his side from the thrashing they got at Ramsgate, Batten replied: “I think we did. I think the lads’ started well. We believed in ourselves.

“We had a bad day on Saturday. We didn’t play at all and that result was a result that Ramsgate deserved and I think tonight we’ve gone out after that and showed a good reaction from the lads’.

“The game plan, as always, is to win the game. We play with width, we’ve got good wide players and we try to break out in midfield, get Jacob Lambert on the ball, get Eitel Moumi-Goueth on the ball and it worked.

“We had lots of opportunities first 20 minutes but we couldn’t convert.  We couldn’t get that second goal when we were on top.”

Sheppey United central midfielder Eitel Moumi-Goueth gave the ball away to left-winger Samuel King, who intercepted and took a couple of touches before stroking a right-footed drive from 30-yards, across goalkeeper Aiden Prall and bouncing past the far post as Merstham created their first chance after 79 seconds.

Sheppey United’s holding midfielder Jordy Ndozid, striker Daniel Bradshaw and Moumi-Goueth linked up well in the final third before the ball was worked to right-winger Danny Leonard, who put in a low cross towards the near post which was swept past the foot of the near-post by Bradshaw from inside the six-yard box.

Sheppey United’s left-back Rhys Wyborn and winger Carvalho linked up well during the first half, causing problems for Merstham’s right-back Oliver Khinda.

Wyborn skipped past quiet winger Olumayowa Lawal in midfield before space opened up before drilling a left-footed drive towards the bottom far corner from 30-yards, forcing Merstham goalkeeper Robert Tolfrey to dive to his left to push towards safety with five minutes and 27 seconds on the clock.

“I think it was quite an open game tonight at times.  I think they were quite patient.  I thought we had an opportunity to get goals tonight, didn’t take them and they were patient and they came back into the game at times,” said Batten.

However, Sheppey United took a deserved lead with six minutes and 28 seconds on the clock, with Carvalho tucking home his third goal of the season following a well-worked move down the right.

A deep Bradshaw and Leonard linked up well down the right before attacking midfielder Jacob Lambert reached the by-line before cutting the ball back towards an unmarked Carvalho, who took a touch before clinically finishing with his right-foot past Tolfrey from eight-yards.

“That was the result of our great start.  We did start well. I think it was a well-worked goal and well finished by Gil,” said Batten.

“I said to Gil at half-time, we had lots of opportunities.  I think with Gil he was cutting in a lot on his right and I just asked him just to swing that left-foot on it because he’s prominently right-footed playing on the left and we looked dangerous.”

However, Merstham showed great character and swiftly levelled, with central midfielder Lewis joining Carvalho on three goals for the season.

Merstham striker Aidan Brown drew a foul from Ndozoi and Prall lined up a five-man wall but they allowed Lewis’ drilled right-footed free-kick from 20-yards to go through the wall and nestle inside the bottom near corner.

“That’s a goal we’re very disappointed with because I thought we could’ve cleared the ball earlier and we had a chance to clear it and then we’ve knocked a little two or three yard ball back and then we’ve committed the foul and they’ve stuck it and it’s gone straight through our wall.  We must be disappointed with that,” admitted Batten.

Sheppey United were guilty of a glaring miss in the 28^th minute.

Prall launched a kick to his right-back Joseph Ganiwa, who played the ball down the line for a deep Bradshaw to turn his man and release Ganiwa charging down the right.

The right-back picked out an unmarked Carvalho at the back post but he lacked composure and lashed his first-time left-footed drive over the top of the near-post from 10-yards, after getting in behind Khinda.

“That was another great opportunity but unfortunately he’s leaned back and he skied it,” added Batten.

Merstham’s attacking players often failed to press Sheppey United’s back-four playing-out-from-the-back.

Merstham’s two centre-halves Matthew Drage and the recalled Dean Gunner were resilient and kept two-goal striker Bradshaw quiet.

“Dan’s an integral part of the squad here and although Dan is not getting any younger, I still believe he can score goals at this level,” said Batten.

“I don’t think we got enough quality balls into the box tonight and they were cut out the majority at the near post but if Dan gets a chance, it’s a high percentage that he will score.”

Bradshaw drew a foul from Drage in the 32^nd minute and Wyborn whipped his left-footed free-kick just over the Merstham crossbar from 28-yards.

Batten said: “I just said I thought we had a good half. It was a decent half. Just keep going, just keep doing the things, just jeep getting the ball out wide, try to get balls into the box and eventually I thought we’d get another goal or two.”

Decruz opted for a defensive 4-5-1 formation at the start of the second half, with Lambert leading the charge at the start of the second half for the Ites.

Right-winger Leonard delivered a hanging cross from within the right-channel and Bradshaw’s header was cleared out to Lambert, who took a touch on the edge of the box before his right-footed shot sailed across Tolfrey and past the right-hand post from 20-yards after 51 minutes.

“I think it was a night of a few of them. I think where we sort of had half opportunities or an opportunity and we just couldn’t apply the finishing touch,” admitted Batten.

The game lacked intensity and quality for large parts of the second-half and debutant striker Jahmal Hector-Ingram, 25, replaced Bradshaw in the 65^th minute, seconds after Bradshaw had just been booked for diving inside the Merstham penalty area.

Wyborn launched a long ball out of defence to release Carvalho down the left and he delivered a deep cross towards the back post for an unmarked Hector-Ingram, who steered his header towards the base of the far post but Merstham were able to clear their lines once more in the 67^th minute.

“Jahmal has got to get himself fit.  He’s been out for the game for a few months, he was playing out in America and he’s come back but he’s got good pedigree,” said Batten.

“He’s played eight Championship games for Derby County a few years back (2020-21), so we’re hoping when he gets himself fit, we’ve got a good striker on our hands.

“You’ve got to hand it to Merstham tonight, I thought they never made an error but they defended everything, never gave us anything. If we were going to score, we were going to have to score a good goal.”

Merstham finished the game on the front foot, with Prall making a diving save to preserve the point at the halfway mark.

Merstham left-back Jude Molloy played a low 20-yard pass in from the left to Brown, who stabbed a first-time pass in behind Christie to put Molloy through on goal and his left-footed shot from 12-yards forced Prall to dive to his left and push the ball towards safety.

“I think as the game went on, we were, not desperate to get a goal, but we very much wanted to get the win tonight, especially following Saturday and get back on track,” said Batten.

“I think we were pushing, we were trying to push up high. We were committing more players forward and it opened up a few gaps for the opposition.  Playing at home, they’re always going to have a few opportunities.”

Leonard was booked for a challenge on Molloy and Merstham went close from the resulting free-kick.

Lewis allowed Drage to take the 30-yard free-kick, which he curled his right-footed free-kick just past the foot of the left-hand post in the 79^th minute.

Ndozid fed Hector-Ingram who sent a right-footed angled drive over the top of the far post as Sheppey United got in behind Gunner.

Sheppey United showed resilience to earn a hard-fought point and they can expect a fine from The Football Association after picking up six yellow cards from referee Scott Crowhurst tonight.

“I couldn’t see a bad tackle in the whole game,” claimed Batten.

“I said to the referee after the game, I know you’re not allowed to talk to them or voice your opinion or anything like that.  I said to him ‘what is it now? Is it a knitting club or something now that we’re involved with, or is it a football match?

“There wasn’t a poor tackle in the game, people were trying to win the ball and if by winning the ball you’re committing a free-kick, then it’s a free-kick. It doesn’t have to be a booking every single time.  You can just give a free-kick and it’s so frustrating!”

Merstham kept knocking on the door with late pressure and Lewis floated in their final corner, from the right but Gunner steered his header over the crossbar at the end.

Managerless Beckenham Town remain at the summit of this eighth-tier division as Louie Theophanous’ last-gasp winner gave them a 3-2 win at Broadbridge Heath tonight.

Beckenham Town have picked up 26 points from their 12 league outings but have played the most games in the 22-club division.

Ramsgate (21 points from seven games), Sheppey United (19 points from eight games), Burgess Hill Town (19 points from nine) and Erith Town (17 points from 10 games) are in the play-off zone tonight.

Sittingbourne (16 points from seven games), Margate (16 points from nine games) and Merstham (16 points from 10 games), make up the top eight.

Sheppey United welcome Ben Greenhalgh’s Margate to Holm Park on Saturday, Margate lost 2-1 at Burgess Hill Town tonight.

Ryan Maxwell’s Sittingbourne can climb up to third-place with a Wednesday night win at Sevenoaks Town.

When asked about his side’s progress so far this season, Batten revealed he is keen to add to his 18 man squad.

“I suppose where we are, we've had a good start, of course and you’re always to come up against a period where it gets a bit tougher.  You’re not going to get it all your own way.

“We’re still developing as a squad. We still need a bit of strength-in-depth, I believe, within the squad but we just have to take one game at a time and try to play our football and see where that takes us.

“It’s a tough league and to even be in the play-offs would be a great achievement.

“We’re always looking to try to strengthen. It comes down to finance and whether we can do that.

“With the amount of games you play now, it’s 42 league games this season, it’s tough on sort of 14, 15, 16 players. You need to have that bit more strength-in-depth in the squad.  You can have one injured, two out and then you’re down to playing youngsters, which is fine, of course, but over the course of the season the teams that have been successful have had that strength-in-depth.

“Margate will be a tough game, tough game. Margate were in the league above, ex Conference club down in this league now. That’s the thing with football, isn’t it.  You have your peaks and troughs but looking forward to the game, looking forward to playing Margate. There should be a decent crowd and hopefully we can get a result.”

Sheppey United have secured two seventh-placed finishers in this division and Batten was asked what success will be for the club this season.

“Ultimately success will be to get a play-off position, that will be successful, but we’ve got to remember this is our third season at this level.

“We’ve had two fantastic finishes, we’ve had two seventh’s in the league.”

Margate spent three seasons in the Conference (now National League) between 2001-2004 under Chris Kinnear.

Batten recalled: “Coming up from 12 years ago, we had a cabbage field with rabbit holes all over it, with no stadium and we were in the County League.  To come from that to the Isthmian League where we’ve got a nice stadium, good support, a 3G pitch and a club moving forward.

“I think we must be very happy with where we are at the moment.  Of course, we want to do better because that’s the nature of the game, progression is the nature of the game but you’ve got to remember there’s some big teams in this league.

“You’ve got teams like Sittingbourne.  It’s their 19^th attempt to get out of this division. If you look at that and this is our third season in it, let alone trying to get out of it!

“I think if we’re hovering around it and we’ve got an opportunity to be in that play-off position, that’s what we’ll be working towards.”

Merstham: Robert Tolfrey, Oliver Khinda, Jude Molloy, Bradley Wilson, Matthew Drage, Dean Gunner, Samuel King, Lee Lewis, Aidan Brown, Andy Kabuiku-Somo (Korrey Henry 73), Olumayowa Lawal.
Subs: Aaron Jenkins, Alex Rihoy, Harry Murphy, Michele Maccari

Goal: Lee Lewis 14

Booked: Andy Kabuiku-Somo 45, Bradley Wilson 69, Matthew Drage 87

Sheppey United: Aiden Prall, Joseph Ganiwa, Rhys Wyborn, Jordy Ndozid, Sinn’Kaye Christie, Olamilekan Majoyegbe, Dadigildo Carvalho (Victor Aiye 84), Eitel Moumi-Goueth (James Taylor 84), Daniel Bradshaw (Jahmal Hector-Ingram 65), Jacob Lambert, Danny Leonard.
Subs: Hanson-Sam Itauma, Mamadou Diallo

Goal: Dadigildo Carvalho 7

Booked: Eitel Moumi-Goueth 22, Dadigilido Carvalho 42, Sinn’Kaye Christie 62, Daniel Bradshaw 65, Danny Leonard 77, Jordy Ndozid 89

Attendance: 333
Referee: Mr Scott Crowhurst
Assistants: Mr Nigel Owen & Mr Calum Edgcombe