Ernie Batten can see the progress as Sheppey play catch-up after a disrupted pre-season.

Preparations for the new campaign were hit by manager Jack Midson’s departure, leaving director of football Batten to pick up the pieces.

He knew the Ites were behind where they needed to be but takes encouragement from a promising start.

They’re unbeaten after three matches in Isthmian South East and on Saturday eased past Kennington 3-1 in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

“Overall, we’re starting to play some good patterns of football,” said Batten.

“I wouldn’t say we’re the finished article - there’s certain things we’re working hard on - but I believe we’re improving with each game.

“The lads have all agreed they didn’t have the best preparations in pre-season so we’re trying to incorporate pre-season into the first few weeks of the playing season, and it seems to be paying off.

“You’ve got to be a little bit careful because you need to save enough in the players’ legs to play a game on a Saturday or a Tuesday but we’re balancing that and seeing better performances.

“Our intensity and the way we move the ball quickly is improving and we need to carry on in that vein.

“We still need to make further improvements and, fitness-wise, I think we’re a couple of weeks away from where we need to be.

“A few more training sessions and games will help with that, and getting everybody up to speed is key.

“It’s a squad game and I believe we’ve got a good squad.

“We’re a little light in a couple of areas but we’ve got some good young players coming through the youth team.”

Sheppey handed a debut to one of their promising youngsters, introducing forward Oladipo Durowoju as a second-half substitute.

The Ites are keen to promote from within where they can.

“He had 15 or 20 minutes and he did OK,” said Batten. “I believe he used to be at Crystal Palace.

“He can play down the middle or out wide, he’s quick and he’s got ability - I like that type of player.

“We needed cover because Danny Leonard and James Bessey are the only wide players we’ve got.

“If at all possible, we’ll look to promote from within.

“We’ve got to be mindful of the budget.

“Teams in this league are spending huge amounts of money and I’m always at a loss as to how they are doing that.

“We’ve said for many seasons we want to be self-sufficient.

“We don’t want Sheppey United to go out of business, like what happened many years ago.

“We want success but we don’t want to put the club at risk.

“It has to be measured with what we’re doing commercially off the field.”

Kennington did their best to frustrate Sheppey in a goalless first half at Holm Park.

Jacob Lambert and Danny Leonard scored within five minutes of the restart and while Fin Dent replied, Lambert struck again.

“It was fairly routine in the end,” said Batten, whose side have drawn Burgess Hill at home in the Second Qualifying Round on September 16.

“Kennington defended well - credit to them.

“They sat very deep and it took us a while to break them down.

“We thought that would be their game plan and it’s down to us to overcome it, which we did quite well.

“It was about getting the first goal and once we got that, we were on our way.

“They got one back against the run of play but we got a third and should have had a few more.”

Connor Wilkins is set to return from injury when Sheppey visit Burgess Hill in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round this Saturday (3pm).