Sheppey boss Ernie Batten doesn’t mind how promotion comes this season - just as long as it happens.

The Ites drew level on points with Southern Counties East leaders Chatham after winning 3-0 at Erith & Belvedere last weekend.

It’s all set up for an exciting run-in as the league heavyweights fight for the title, while Glebe, who have three games in hand, can’t be discounted.

The top two look set to go up automatically, with the runners-up avoiding a promotion play-off, and all Batten wants is to be playing Isthmian South East football next season.

“I really don’t mind how we get promotion,” he said.

“Our aim is to win the league but promotion is the real target.

“When I’m sitting on the beach in a few months’ time, whether we go up in first or second, I’ll be just as happy sitting there sipping my cocktail.

“Glebe have three games in hand, so it’s not over yet.

"We’ve still got to win our games and make sure we can’t be caught and there’s still a few banana skins to overcome.”

The Ites, held to a 2-2 draw at Fisher on Tuesday last week, beat Erith & Belvedere with two more goals for in-form striker Warren Mfula and a late third from Dean Grant.

Mfula, who’s scored 15 goals in his last 16 games, went off with a tight calf and is doubtful for Saturday’s game at Bearsted.

In Grant, who’s been playing out wide, they have an ideal replacement at centre-forward should Mfula miss out.

“Dean’s been superb, he really has,” said Batten.

“He came to us a few months ago via Herne Bay and Faversham and it took him a while to get going where he hasn’t really played much in the last couple of years, due to Covid and before that he had a dislocated shoulder.

“Recently, his fitness levels have risen, where he’s played more minutes, and he’s been a class player for us.

“We’ve played him out wide, which isn’t really his position, but he’s done a great job out there.

“When we’ve moved him central, which is his natural position, he’s been equally good, and when Warren came off on Saturday, he went down the middle and scored within 10 minutes.

“He’s a strong runner, a physical runner, who can ride a tackle and hold people off and he only needs half a yard and he’s away.

“I think sometimes as a manager you lose sight of the fact that Dean’s kind of experience goes a long way.

“When you’re trying to get promotion, and you’ve got players in their late 20s or early 30s who’ve been there and done it, that experience really helps you towards the end.

“They know what to do, how to play and what it takes.”

Batten was delighted with Sheppey’s display at Park View Road, five days on from being held by Fisher.

He said: “It could have been a very tricky game, they’ve got some quality players, like Luke Rooney, but on the day we were exceptional in all departments.

“Three-nil didn’t flatter us and it might have been four or five.”

Sheppey came from two goals down to win 4-2 at Deal in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night.

Billy Bennett, Grant and Ashley Sains' double turned the tie on its head.