Sevenoaks Town 0-3 Sheppey United - We're not expected to make the play-offs and there's no pressure on us to do that, says Sheppey United boss Jack Midson

Sevenoaks Town 0 – 3 Sheppey United
Location	Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5BX
Kickoff	18/03/2023 15:00

SEVENOAKS TOWN  0-3  SHEPPEY UNITED
Isthmian League South East Division
Saturday 18 March 2023
Stephen McCartney reports from Greatness Park

SHEPPEY UNITED manager Jack Midson insists there is no pressure on his side to snatch a place in the Isthmian League South East Division play-offs at the end of their maiden campaign in the division.
 

Sevenoaks Town suffered their worst home league defeat of the season as Midson’s men scored three second half goals to seal a massive victory at Greatness Park.

Holding midfielder Josh Wisson scored with a low 25-yard strike to give Sheppey United the lead just past the hour-mark, before the visitors’ added two further goals inside the final 10 minutes.

Right-winger Danny Leonard smashed in a second after a defensive mix-up, before striker Jake Embery came off the bench to sweep in his eighth goal of the season deep into injury time.

Sevenoaks Town were the better side during a dominant first-half but they were often guilty of taking too many touches inside the Sheppey United box and trying to score the perfect goal, while Sheppey United were clinical at the other end.

“I think it was a really deserved performance,” said Midson, whose side suffered a 4-1 defeat at Three Bridges on 28 February, before bouncing back to beat East Grinstead Town (4-1) and VCD Athletic (1-0) and a fellow big-hitter going for promotion here today.

“We had to be disciplined the whole way.  In these types of games against a quality side, they can go either way very quickly but we had to be disciplined in there, be patient for our chances and we took our chances at the end when it opened up a bit.

“My players listened to the homework we gave them about Sevenoaks. They listened to the shape that we wanted. They worked really hard and that’s what it takes.  We’ve got a good honest young squad. If you’re not at it against a good team like Sevenoaks it could’ve gone the other way.

“I said before the game you could either win 3-0 or lose 3-0, so I’m happy it went that way.

“They kept possession in the middle but I think we had a good shape and if you go diving in that’s when they play around you.  I think they were restricted to just getting it wide and trying to get one-v-one’s down the wing and we coped with it very well.

“Other than that, I don’t think they really hurt us with their possession as much as maybe they do other teams.”

Sevenoaks Town boss Harry Hudson admitted: “I think (I’m feeling) a mixture of frustration and anger.  The way we finished the game, I’m angry and I’m embarrassed because once Sheppey got their first we lost all of our control emotionally and the second goal was a great example of that. We don’t concede those type of goals, we’re usually very, very solid.

“The second goal was probably the killer but it’s mixed emotions because I think for probably 55 minutes of the game, I thought we were very, very dominant and actually played well.

“I said to the boys at the end it was almost like complacency there.  We’re almost toying, not getting our shot off and that was our downfall today because we didn’t score when we were totally dominant and that’s come back and bite us.

“We must’ve had 15 or 20 entries into their box and we didn’t score a goal today and if you don’t do that in any game of football and don’t put any daylight between you and the opposition they’re going to keep drawing on more and more confidence from it.

“We were so comfortable in the game, it was almost like it shocked us and we lost all of our control emotionally and started making some horrendously bad decisions and the second goal is a great example of that.  It’s just a bad mix-up, which lets them in and let’s them score their second.

“For me, we were complacent at nil-nil. At times the game was a bit too easy for us and we didn’t score and we weren’t able to deal with that emotionally.”

Sheppey United created the first chance of the game inside the opening five and a half minutes.

Left-winger Mamadou Diallo shrugged off Fumnaya Shomotun in midfield before hitting a diagonal ball over to Leonard on the right and he cut the ball back for right-back Connor Wilkins, who put over a cross and a sliced defensive clearance resulted in goalkeeper Tyler McCarthy gathering the ball at his near post.

Sevenoaks Town produced some attractive patterns of play with left-back Karn Miller-Neave often linking up with Kieran Cadogan and winger David Kawa down the left, with Kawa often cutting inside and past Wilkins.

Sevenoaks Town’s first opening came in the 10^th minute but from the right-hand side of the pitch.

Shomotun easily cut inside Sheppey United’s left-back Frankie Del Morgan and the ball came out to Emmanuel Mensah, the central midfielder controlled the ball before drilling a right-footed drive from 20-yards, which flashed across the keeper and past the far post.

Sevenoaks Town’s right-back Lexus Beeden played the ball out to Kawa, who cut inside Wilkins outside the box, darted into the box and from the corner of the six-yard box lashed his left-footed drive against the top of the near post from a tight angle after 14 minutes.

Hudson said: “I think Fumnaya tried to cross to be fair to him.  In the first half we probably had eight or nine one-on-one opportunities against the full-back.

“I think in the first half we played well.  We broke their press consistently. We got ourselves in the final third consistently.  I thought the build-up play from the team was very good in the first half.  We just let ourselves down when we got into the 18-yard box.”

Midson added: “I think Aiden had it covered, he’s a good goalie.  

“When they create those one-on-ones, they had five or six of them and eventually something’s going to give.  I thought we defended great at the back. They’re always going to have chances, they’re at home so they should be expected to have shots.”

Sheppey United created an opening in the 18^th minute, however.

Wilkins threw the ball to striker Warren Mfula, who chested the ball down and to Eddie Allsopp, who played a short pass along the deck back to Mfula, who pulled his shot past the near post from 25-yards.

“He’s coming back from an injury, he’s almost at 100% fitness and he’s working really hard and he will always get you goals and he was unlucky with that one,” Midson said of his 24-goal talisman.

“But if we keep him fit and he gets his goals towards the season, I think we’re in with a real shout of the play-offs. We’re not expected to make it.  We haven’t been expected to be up there so we’re exceeding expectations and we’ll keep going right until the end, something to play for.”

Hudson added: “I don’t recall (that chance).  From my memory it was some set-plays and some counter-attacks.  I felt we were in control. When they had the ball I thought our press was strong. When we had the ball we progressed quite comfortably into and around the final third.”

Sevenoaks Town’s 10-goal striker Freddie Parker charged into the edge of the Sheppey United box before he was tackled by centre-half Olamilekan Majoyegbe and Cadogan’s first time shot was sliced past the left-hand post from a central position 18-yards from goal.

Sheppey United should have done better with a decent chance that came their way in the 32^nd minute.

Wilkins played the ball down the line to Leonard down the right and his cross was cleared away by Beeden and fell to Sheppey’s left-back Frankie Del Morgan, who controlled the ball before lashing his left-footed drive screaming past the left-hand post from 22-yards.

“I know we were sitting in with the defensive shape, it was important today to condense the pitch but not sit back and invite them on. We went higher and that’s why we created chances,” explained Midson.

Sevenoaks Town’s holding midfielder Helge Orome (playing against his old side and becoming Hudson’s 42^nd player of the season), won the ball off Diallo in midfield before releasing Shomotun, who turned and cut inside Del Morgan before hitting a deflected left-footed drive past the post from 25-yards, as the dominant home side had to settle for going into the interval on level terms.

Hudson said:  “It was a tough one at half-time because we didn’t want the whistle.  We wanted the half to keep going.

“We asked the boys to stop taking 15 touches when they get into the penalty area and start taking one or two and getting shots off earlier and if we just continue with that we felt the goal was a matter of time.”

Midson added: “We had three behind Warren Mufula, with Eddie Allsopp, Danny Leonard and Mamadou Diallo and they had to be disciplined with their three (in midfield).

“We had Helge Orome at our place and we know he can get on the ball, he’s not necessarily going to drive past you btu he’s a good player but their left-back (Karn Miller-Neave), as soon as they get it, he drives in the middle of the pitch, so as long as we lock on their three, nullify that threat, then it becomes an even game.”

Hudson revealed that he withdrew Beeden at the interval as he was suffering from suspected concussion after a blow to the head during the first half, while Kawa was nursing a groin strain.

For Sheppey United, meanwhile, central midfielder Benjamin Beard was forced off later on in the second half with a twisted knee, while Diallo was suffering with a tight hamstring and made way.

Sevenoaks Town continued to press and created a couple of goalscoring chances inside the opening seven minutes.

An unmarked Orome played the ball out to Shomotun on the right, who easily cut in and past Del Morgan and once inside the penalty area his silky skills ensured he got a left-footed shot off, which took a kind deflection and Prall comfortably caught the ball in his midriff.

Sevenoaks Town produced a well-worked move just 46 seconds later, working the ball from right-to-left.

Mensah played the ball into Parker in the middle, who swept the ball out towards Kawa on the left-wing. The winger did well to keep the ball in play while hogging the left touchline.

Kawa cut inside and his initial progress was ended by Wisson’s tackle but Kawa stroked a right-footed shot towards the bottom near corner from 20-yards, which was comfortably held by Prall, smothering the ball low to his right.

“For me up until the 55^th minute, I thought we were the dominant side in the game – ultimately that amounted to zero goals on our part,” added Hudson.

Midson added: “Aiden’s really good. We spoke this week about reducing chances. The defence are really honest guys and they ran out and press and have that desire but sometimes they leave Aiden open, so we’re trying to reduce that.  Aiden is a fantastic goalkeeper whose helped us out a lot this season but you can’t leave him open and vulnerable too much so I think we done that better today.”

Sheppey United started to grow into the game and created a decent opening to snatch the lead in the 56^th minute.

Allsopp (who played behind Mfula in the number 10 role) swung in their third corner from the right, which was punched away by McCarthy.

Leonard and Del Morgan linked up well just outside the corner of the penalty area and Leonard dug the ball out from under his feet before hitting a deflected left-footed drive crashing against the crossbar from 20-yards.

“I think when we get balls in like that, I think first half we had two corners and Eddie kicked it off the pitch, hit the front man,” said Midson.

“Eddie’s balls in the second half were unbelievable.  They were right in there enticing the keeper out. We were heading balls. We were getting chances from set-pieces and we didn’t do that in the first half, so I think that was key while we got stronger in the second half.”

Hudson added: “That was a good shot from Danny Leonard to be fair.  We probably felt we deserved a bit of luck.  Before that point I felt we dealt with their set-plays quite well today.”

Sheppey United hit the hosts on the counter-attack which lead to them grabbing the lead with 16 minutes and 58 seconds on the clock.

A long ball down the left released Wilkins and Leonard, the ball was worked to Allsopp, who teed up Wisson, who took a touch before drilling a low right-footed drive across the diving keeper to find the bottom far corner from 25-yards to score his fourth goal of the season.

“Josh Wisson can do that. Sometimes he’s holding and we don’t want to stop him going forward because we know he can do stuff like that,” said Midson.

“I spoke to him at half-time about free-kicks and I’d rather him keep them on the floor and test the goalie and he did that. He smashed it straight into the bottom corner.

“You’re quoting Connor Wilkins getting forward, that’s our right-back you’re talking about! He’s getting forward and creating so many chances. As long as they’re disciplined and there’s three or four at the back our left-back or right-back can bomb on like Frankie Morgan can bomb on and put some fantastic crosses in.  He might not have done it as much today because he was up against a good tricky winger but they can both do it but we just can’t leave ourselves open.”

Hudson added: “It was a shot from distance. It was disappointing. It’s gone through bodies and unsighted Tyler. 

“The longer the game went on you’re always fearful that stuff like that might happen.  At that point we were at a crossroads. It would either kick us into gear to push us on, or the other way and unfortunately today it definitely went the other way for us.”

Leonard tried to score with a smacked half-volley from 45-yards, which sailed harmlessly wide, before Sheppey United doubled their lead with 34 minutes and 36 seconds on the clock.

Prall launched a big kick upfield with his right-foot and should have been dealt with by Sevenoaks centre-half Antone Douglas on the edge of his penalty area.

However, a poor back header had his goalkeeper in trouble and was pounced on by Allsopp, who put it on a plate for Leonard to sweep his left-footed shot into the centre of the goal from 12-yards to notch his fifth goal of the season.

“I think we highlighted a few defenders.  They do like to play-out-from-the-back and no disrespect to them, they do have a nice pitch and they play but if we get at them and press them they struggle to get out,” said Midson.

“We did that today, more second half than first half. When they started tiring second half they had to start playing longer and I think that played into our hands when they went longer ball.”

Hudson added: “We gifted them the second goal from a defensive mix-up and then pretty much at that point the games finished.

“It’s a shambolic goal if I’m honest. Yes, it’s one of those goals, it’s almost unthinkable to concede so that really, really defiantly knocked the stuffing out of us and made the game almost impossible at that point onwards.”

Sheppey United were now in a strong position at this point in proceedings and Leonard hit a deep cross from the right towards substitute left-winger Bradley Schafer, who knocked the ball on for Allsopp, who played in substitute striker Embery, who was denied by McCarthy, diving to his left to parry.

“That was a good pattern of play that. I think we can create those patterns, if we’re disciplined at the back,” said Midson.

“We’re always going to create chances.  We’ve got fantastic, honest players higher up and we’re always going to create chances but we just need to not leave ourselves open by getting bodies forward.”

Hudson replaced his two wingers (Shomotun and Kawa) in the 68^th minute, with Shomotun often getting into good areas inside the box but taking too many touches on the ball, trying to score the perfect goal for Sunday’s Twitter showcase reel.

Sheppey United were direct and clinical in the second half and sealed the deal by scoring their third goal four minutes and 47 seconds into stoppage time.

Schafer (playing against an old club) cut past two Sevenoaks players down the left, charged into the penalty area and found Allsopp at the far post.  His initial shot was charged down and fell at Embery’s feet, who swept his first time shot into the bottom right-hand corner from inside the six-yard box.

“I’ve had a chat with Jake this week. He was off ill last week. He’s come back in and he’s been unlucky not to start,” revealed Midson.

“Jake’s not a natural 10 so his chances have been reduced but he worked really hard when he came on for the team.”

Midson added: “A clean-sheet, which for the back four and goalie is brilliant. They’ll be buzzing off that. That’s their job and the strikers job and the forward players’ jobs are to score goals so everyone’s done their jobs today and I’m really happy.”

Hudson said: “We kind of gambled and we’re going backwards at that point. We lost shape, we lost control, lost emotional intelligence and it’s an embarrassment to finish the game in the manner which we did and I let the boys know that at the end.

“We weren’t clinical, we allowed a team to stay in the game.  Credit to Sheppey for some of their defensive blocks and things like that.  We should’ve been, in my opinion, 2-0 up at half-time from the dominance.  We probably should’ve scored the third after half-time and we go on to win the game very comfortably and we didn’t do that and unfortunately it’s a bit of a habit of us this year and we’re running out of time!

“We set the target of wining the remainder of our home games.  If we had done that because of who we were playing against we probably guarantee ourselves pretty much in the play-offs because they’re all six-point games pretty much against our rivals around us and I came into today’s game confident.  The boys have trained well, playing well and to lose a game 3-0, it’s our biggest league loss at home.”

Jamie Coyle’s Ramsgate remain at the summit with 65 points on the board with six games remaining.

The four-play off places are currently held by Chatham Town (61 points), Beckenham Town (59), Whitehawk (58, one game in hand) and Cray Valley (56).

Ashford United (53), Sheppey United (52), Sevenoaks Town (51) and Hythe Town (49) are all waiting to pounce in the final six games of the season.

Hudson’s side have extended their winless run to three games and welcome Steven Watt’s Hythe Town here next Saturday. The two sides played out a goal-less draw at Reachfields Stadium on 27 August.

“They’re overachieving to be fair to them. Fair play to their manager there, he’s doing a really good job for them to be up and around it,” said Hudson.

“They’re a very different type of side, very physical, based on set-pieces and long-throws.  You can’t knock it. There’s lots of different ways to win football games.

“I personally don’t think there’s many teams that will be able to stay with us at this level but if we miss that piece of the puzzle then the season will peter out, it’s as simple as that.

“There’s not much more us as staff can do to prepare the boys to play.  We had all of the solutions to whatever Sheppey were going to do today.  We found the solutions. The boys were very good with the football. We just didn’t make the right decision in and around the box and that’s really hard to take.

“We need to win six games, close to many games as we can.  We have Cray Valley to play at home. We have Beckenham to play away. I’m sure there will be twists and turns left in it.  It’s certainly not the result we were looking for today, whatsoever, so we’ve got to play further catch-up.

“If we make the play-offs, I firmly believe on our day, we’re the best side in the league. I firmly believe that but we are unfortunately too distant.  We’re definitely not out of reach but it’s going to be a hard mountain to climb for us now.

"We’ve had another little blip because we haven’t won in three.  But it’s still mathematically possible for us.  If we fall short it’s based on us dropping some points at home.

“But it’s the result that matters and fair play to Sheppey because they’ve come to our ground and we’re good here and I don’t think many people would’ve expected a scoreline like that today.”

Sheppey United, meanwhile, welcome Jason Huntley’s Beckenham Town to Holm Park, having lost 2-1 at Eden Park Avenue at the end of August.

“We lost at their place and we probably should’ve beaten them at their place and we wasn’t firing on all cylinders,” recalled Midson.

“They’ve got a team of men, a squad of honest players who will scream and shout and really take it to us, so we’ve got to be confident playing like we did today, against a good footballing side. As long as we match teams then we can execute our game after that.

“We work hard during the week. The fans and people like you only really see what happens in the game but we’ve done a lot of work during the week up in the classroom talking about the other team, about us, video analysis.

“The club commit to that so the chairman commits to pay people to video the game so I really appreciate them doing that for me.

“We have a healthy budget at Sheppey, we’re not in a position to sign loads of people but we’ve signed some very good players, some honest players and they are getting sniffs from other clubs, which is a credit to them but I think they’re more than happy staying here.”

Reflecting on his side’s chances of a play-off place, Midson replied: “I think if we look at the start of the season to say we were in this position everyone would bite your hand off.

“We’re not expected to make the play-offs and there’s no pressure on us to do that so we’re just going to flow, keep doing what we’re doing and if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, we just want to push it right to the end of the season so we’ve got something to play for right up until that last game.

“It’s more than reachable, definitely, especially after a performance like today. If we can do that against them we can compete against any team in the last six games but we won’t get carried away.  The pressure is not on us but we know deep down we can do it and we have just got to apply ourselves and take one game as it comes.”

Sevenoaks Town: Tyler McCarthy, Lexus Beeden (Oluwadamio Olorunnisomo 46), Karn Miller-Neave, Helge Orome, Rian Bray, Antone Douglas, David Kawa (Solomon Baugh 68), Emmanuel Mensah, Freddie Parker, Kieran Cadogan, Fumnaya Shomotun (Joshua Ogunseye 68).
Subs: Ben Cheklit, Harvey Walker

Booked: Lexus Beeden 34, Rian Bray 85

Sheppey United: Aiden Prall, Connor Wilkins, Frankie Del Morgan, Josh Wisson, Olamilekan Majoyegbe, Sam Gale, Mamadou Diallo (Bradley Schafer 73), Benjamin Beard (Richard Hamill 69), Warren Mfula (Jake Embery 85), Eddie Allsopp, Danny Leonard.
Subs: Alex Willis, Jack Midson

Goals: Josh Wisson 62, Danny Leonard 80, Jake Embery 90

Booked: Sam Gale 56, Aiden Prall 90

Attendance: 214
Referee: Mr Joshua Langley-Fineing
Assistants: Mr Kyle Mann & Mr Martyn Milligan