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Sport

Isthmian League newcomers Sheppey United bring in Corinthian goalkeeper Aiden Prall as Adam Molloy departs

By: Luke Cawdell lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 01 June 2022

Sheppey United’s new goalkeeper Aiden Prall looks the perfect fit.

Prall will keep goal for the Ites next season when they embark on a new campaign in the Isthmian League, replacing departed No.1 Adam Molloy.

Goalkeeper Aiden Prall playing for Corinthian against Sheppey. Picture: Marc Richards

The newcomer kept 14 clean sheets for Corinthian at that level last season - after their promotion from the Southern Counties East League - and his performances earned him a place in the KentOnline team-of-the-year.

Assistant boss Marcel Nimani was delighted to welcome Prall to the club.

He said: “[Manager] Ernie Batten and I have both been after him for quite some time now and this was the right time to capture his signature.

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“He is someone who has plenty of experience. He is a very talented goalkeeper, he has the attributes that suit our style of play, defensively and offensively, on and off the ball.

“We invited him to the club last week, had a good chat with him and it was very easy to recognise he shares the same ambitions that we do as a club, the same values as we do. We think he will be the perfect fit.”

Molloy has joined Erith & Belvedere after being a mainstay during Sheppey’s quadruple-winning season, keeping 26 clean sheets along the way.

Nimani commented: “Since I have been here at Sheppey we have been blessed with good goalkeepers.

“Adam played a pivotal role in our season and is an outstanding goalkeeper, a great professional. I had a good personal relationship with Adam, he is a good guy.

“Unfortunately we have decided to part ways. It was a tough decision, but he has moved on to another exciting challenge, as we have, but we are confident we will maintain our friendship.”

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Back-up keeper Liam Northwood has also left the Ites.

Nimani added: “He has been a very good No.2 for us. For someone so young to possess the professional attributes that he did, he built up a bit of experience with us, playing seven games, and we also had him on dual registration with Cray Valley as we have a good relationship with them.

“He got three or four games with Kevin Watson’s side and I think he is near enough to being No.1 somewhere. That is what he is after.”

Sheppey are now considering their options for a new back-up, with links to Maidstone United or from their own under-23s.

“We have some options to make a decision on,” said Nimani.

In other areas work is ongoing to recruit and four players will join the club for pre-season.

Offers haven’t been made on them yet, but Sheppey will have a closer look over the summer with a centre-half, winger and possibly a central midfielder on their wanted list.

“We are busy but the most exciting thing for us is that we have kept the core players that we were after,” added Nimani.

The retained list so far includes Renford Tenyue, midfielder Ashley Sheppard, wingers Jefferson Aibangbee and Michael Hagan, players’ player-of-the-season defender Ashley Sains, striker Dean Grant, supporters’ player-of-the-year Billy Bennett and fellow midfield man Liam Gillies. Last season's leading scorer Warren Mfula has also committed for next season.

Pre-season training starts on June 30, with the club’s first friendly at home to Kennington on July 5.

Other friendlies are at home to Maidstone on July 9, Herne Bay on July 16, Lewes on July 19, K Sports on July 23 and Lewisham on July 30.

There are away games, at Larkfield on July 12 and Lordswood on July 26.

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