Two goals in three minutes midway through the first half proved enough for Sheppey on Saturday.

Their Southern Counties East League Premier Division clash went to form as the Ites retain their top-six standing while Blair remain in the bottom three with just three league wins to their name.

One Dan Bradshaw attempt aside, Blair looked fairly comfortable in the opening 20 minutes.

But their decent start quickly unravelled. Darren Cooper's cross found Bradshaw and he unselfishly set up Luke Medley to confidently slot home, the celebrations somewhat muted among the travelling fans as the ball went straight through the net and into the trees behind the goal.

On 26 minutes it was 2-0, Bradshaw beating the offside trap and then lobbing keeper Ben Nourse before turning the ball into an empty net from close range.

It was nearly 3-0 just two minutes later but Nourse made an excellent point-blank save as Bradshaw looked to divert in skipper Jono Richardson's header from a right-wing corner.

Blair were being sliced apart with almost every Sheppey attack but they nearly pulled a goal back, David Abe heading against the woodwork and keeper Aaron Lee-Wharton thwarting Jordan Gallagher.

The home side improved after the break but the woodwork again denied them, Harrison Pont firing against the inside of the upright from long-range with 20 minutes remaining.

Sheppey should have added a third with six minutes left but Kane Butler's effort after Bradshaw rounded the keeper was cleared off the line by Calvin Sedenu.

Hollands & Blair: Nourse, Pont, Crimmen, Ibbertson, Carlinge (Turner 87mins), Sedenu, Gallagher, Simon, Abe, Fregene (Morant 81mins), Wratton (Bishenden 73mins). Subs not used: Godfrey, Johnson.

Sheppey: Lee-Wharton, Ushilaja, Cooper, Amoah, Richardson, Brown, Babington, Bradshaw (Bates 89mins), Medley (Ibrahim 73mins), Botterill, Butler. Subs not used: Stirman, Akhazzan, Laker.

Attendance: 205.