Sheppey United manager Ernie Batten hailed his side’s incredible weekend performance as they made history with a win in Wales.

They beat Merthyr Town 4-1 on Saturday in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round, making it to the last stage of qualifying in the competition before the first round proper and a potential tie against the likes of Derby County and Bolton Wanderers.

The club haven’t been this far before in the competition for over 100 years.

Batten’s men were facing a Merthyr side higher up in the football pyramid, a club proud to call themselves ‘South Wales’ premier non-league team’ but they were no match for The Ites once the Isthmian South East outfit got going.

Sheppey’s boss said: “We were very dominant and the second half was an incredible performance, dominated throughout and could have had more goals, I am really happy with the performance.

“You can have FA Cup matches where they hit the bar three times, your keeper’s brilliant on the day and in the 89th minute you break away and score to win 1-0, but this was different.

“They were no mugs, third in the Southern League Premier, which is one above us in the pyramid and who had knocked out Taunton Town (in the previous round) and they are now top of the National League South. For us to then go and knock them out in the manner we did was incredible.

“They were massive and it took you back to a Football League game, supporters were filling the streets as we pulled in and walking up the ground. By half two one of the stands was already full, it was that kind of day and feeling.

“It was at Merthyr Tydfil’s old ground, who were a big non-league club many years ago with great traditions, the attendance was 900-or something, it felt like more, a huge crowd, a fantastic atmosphere and the Welsh were fantastic hosts, very welcoming and very complimentary after the game, recognising the best team won on the day.

“There was a guy in the crowd with a tannoy, singing Welsh songs, it made the hairs curl on your neck, that kind of atmosphere as you’re kicking off. It all helped with the motivation to go and win the game.”

Sheppey, who had an early morning start to make the game, had to win it the hard way, a goal down after just 18 minutes, but Josh Wisson levelled it up soon after.

Three second-half goals settled the tie as captain Ritchie Hamill put The Ites ahead with a shot from outside the box. Danny Leonard made it 3-1 and Oscar Housego added another.

Reflecting on the game, Batten said: “They had a good start, it was evens for the first 5-10 minutes, they then had a 15-minute spell where they were knocking balls around us, playing one-twos and getting in behind, they were getting crosses in and they scored and I thought ‘oh blimey’.

“We just had to then stay in the game and try and get it on a level playing field which we did, getting a goal soon after to equalise, that was key at that time and then we could relax a bit more, the game was then even up until half-time.

“Second half was a totally different thing. I felt at half-time we had the belief, I had said before the game that mental strength is a massive thing in football, it is dealing with disappointments, if you go a goal down how do you react? Brush it off and get on with it, or let it affect you and go two down.

“We really did respond very well to that disappointment, getting the goal back was key to setting us up for the win. It couldn’t have been better.”