Match Report: Sheppey United 0-2 Chertsey Town
Sheppey United were knocked out of the FA Cup following a hard-fought 2-0 home defeat to Chertsey Town, with a second-half double sealing the visitors' passage into the next round.
The Ites went into the tie short on options, with Alfie Evans and Mamadou Diallo sidelined through injury and both Alfie Hilden and Jack Palmby unavailable due to being cup-tied.
Sheppey started brightly and threatened early on. In the 5th minute, Mikey Salako charged down an attempted clearance from the Chertsey goalkeeper, only to see the ricochet go wide for a goal kick. A minute later, Mo Dabo was brought down on the edge of the area, earning Chertsey's Jesse Effa an early booking, but the resulting free-kick from Josh Wisson was blasted directly into the wall.
Chertsey gradually settled and tested Earle in the 14th minute, forcing the Sheppey shot-stopper into a classy diving save from a 25-yard curling effort following a short corner.
As the half developed, Sheppey’s wide play looked dangerous through wingers Danny Leonard and D'Jean Spencer. Good work from Mbayo in the 25th minute set Leonard free, though his cross just evaded Spencer. Shortly after, Leonard caused further panic in the Chertsey defence with a cross that required two attempts from the keeper to hold.
The Ites came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute. Immediately after Earle made a crucial save at one end, Sheppey counter-attacked rapidly, with Leonard denied only by the Chertsey goalkeeper's outstretched foot. Spencer then forced a palmed save for a corner in the 39th minute. Just before the interval, Spencer beat his man and cut inside to set up Leonard, whose left-footed strike was bravely blocked by a defender to keep it 0-0 at half-time.
The second half opened in frantic fashion. Sheppey came agonizingly close to taking the lead in the 50th minute when Dylan Adjei-Hersey struck the post, followed closely by an Andrews free-kick that sailed just over the crossbar.
Chertsey picked up another booking in the 53rd minute following a flying challenge on Dabo, but just a minute later, the visitors took the lead against the run of play. A long ball over the top caught the Ites defence off guard, allowing Bradley Wilson to race through and finish past Earle (54').
The tie was effectively settled in the 83rd minute when Chertsey were awarded a dubious penalty, which was calmly converted to double their advantage (0-2), Chertsey held firm through stoppage time to secure a 2-0 victory and end Sheppey's FA Cup run.
Lineups & Match Details
Sheppey United XI: Earle, Lawrence, Dabo, Lawrence, Wisson, Mbayo, Clark, Andrews (Sophee-Turner), Adjei-Hersey, Leonard, Spencer (O’Neill), Salako
Unused Subs: Farr, Ganiwa, Kabamba, Cole, Skinner
Goals: 0
Bookings: Adjei-Hersey
Report: Lee Allen
Photo: Marc Richards