MATCH REPORT: PETTS WOOD & HOLMSDALE V SHEPPEY UNITED

Date: 18th July 2026

Sheppey United snatched a dramatic, late victory in a chaotic seven-goal thriller, courtesy of a 90th-minute winner from Salako after a frantic final ten minutes.

The match got off to a quick start, with Dylan Adjei-Hersey causing problems down the flank early on. However, in the 8th minute, a weak defensive header back from Eman Okunja to the on rushing Harley Earle was intercepted by the home side, who took full advantage to make it 1–0 to Holmesdale. Things went from bad to worse for the Ites shortly after, as Mams Diallo was forced off in the 12th minute with a hamstring injury, replaced by a trialist at left-back.

Sheppey pushed for an equalizer throughout the half, on 18 minutes, Josh Wisson who started as captain headed over the bar from a Josh Chambers free-kick. 7 minutes later, D’Jean Spencer beat his man to the by-line, but his cross narrowly missed Chambers. With a little past the half hour mark, the Holmesdale goalkeeper denied Adjei-Hersey with a impressive double save. At the other end, Earle kept Sheppey in it with a sharp save using his feet before punching away the resulting corner. Despite a late offside strike off the post by Salako, the Ites went into the break trailing 1–0.

Sheppey couldn't have asked for a better start to the second period. Substitute Leonard, coming on for Spencer at the break - and having suffered a wasp sting in the warm-up!, intercepted a ball on the left wing straight from kick-off and ran through to goal before he slotted it home into the far corner (1–1). On 54 minutes, Okunja made amends for his first-half error by setting up Mikey Salako, who put the Ites ahead (1–2). Three minutes later the home side struck back almost immediately, converting a penalty to level the match at2–2.

The game turned end-to-end as both sides searched for a winner. Salako almost restored the lead in the 61st minute when he charged down a goalkeeper clearance, only to see the ball bounce off him and hit the post. A few minutes later, Wisson forced another fine save from 30 yards out. At the other end, Holmesdale rattled the post in the 82nd minute.

The final minutes produced non-stop action. On 86 minutes, Josh Chambers looked to have sealed the win for the Ites, finishing off a attack to make it 2–3, the midfielders 4th goal in pre-season. Bang-on 89 minutes, cruel luck struck Sheppey when a Holmesdale shot hit the crossbar, rebounded off goalie Earle, and bounced into the net for an unluckly own goal (3–3).

Then with stoppage time looming, refusing to settle for a draw, Sheppey immediately launched a counter-attack straight from the restart. A brilliant team move carved through the home defense, leaving Salako to finish calmly and claim his second goal of the match and 4th in pre-season (3–4).

 The referee blew the final whistle shortly after, bringing an end to an extraordinary contest and securing a hard-fought 4–3 victory for Sheppey United.

Sheppey Utd: 1. Harley Earle, 2. Harry Lawrence, 3. Mamadou Diallo (10: 12. Trialist), 6. Josh Wisson (C), 9. Mikey Salako, 10. Dylan Adjei-Hersey (76: 16. Trialist), 11. Eman Okunja (68: Gray), 14. Trialist (76: Cole), 17. Cameron Andrews, 19. Josh Chambers, 20. D' Jean Spencer (HT: 7. Leonard).

Subs unused: 13. Trialist

Report: Lee Allen

Photo: Marc Richards