More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Sheppey United’s quiet guy Danny Leonard is making a big impression.
Boss Ernie Batten knows the prolific winger can play higher but hopes he’ll stick around and help the Ites achieve their goals.
Leonard took his goal tally to 10 with a hat-trick on Saturday and a man-of-the-match performance in a 6-2 win over Deal Town.
Batten has been delighted with the form of the ex-Herne Bay player.
“He is a quality player,” said the Ites boss. “John Embery (the former Herne Bay manager) spoke very highly of him and said he was a top, top player.
“He’s a fantastic lad, very quiet, but a pleasure to work with.
“He has no airs or graces but has sheer quality and is a player we might struggle to keep.
“Danny can play at a higher level but he is enjoying his football with us and wants to go higher with us. It’s refreshing to know and long may it continue.
“Managers will look around, like I do. We think we have found the ideal position for him, playing out wide. He has pace and good awareness.”
The Ites visit lowly Greenwich Borough – now playing at Phoenix Sports – this Saturday.
Back-to-back high-scoring victories in the Southern Counties East Premier Division have put them right back in the promotion mix.
The manager has questioned his tactics at times this season but appears to have got them right at the moment.
“We just need to play our game and let others worry about us,” he said.
“The acid test will be how we cope against the top sides around us. Can we play well enough to get the goals and keep it tight at the back?”
He’s unlikely to change anything this weekend for a game against a team who sit third from bottom, although a 1-0 win over Canterbury last weekend shows Greenwich still have something about them.
Batten was expected to watch some of his squad players in action on Tuesday when they played Tonbridge in a friendly. The National South side had their game called off at late notice on Saturday and needed minutes for their players.
It’s an ideal opportunity for Batten, too.
He said: “There is a danger that a defeat could deflate us but it‘s a chance for others to get minutes.”
Ian Batten is on his way back from injury while Miles Cornwell missed the weekend game against Deal with flu.
Tarik Ibrahim, Hicham Akhazzan and Lewis West all needed action while striker Rob Denness could be involved after appearing for the development side at the weekend.
One player heading out of Sheppey is defender Jez Hammond, unhappy at the amount of action he’s seen of late. He was an unused substitute at the weekend.
On Saturday night, Hammond tweeted: “Great club but time for me to move on.”
Batten responded: “We tried to keep him happy but he wants to play.
“Jez has been fantastic, he never missed a training session and didn’t do anything wrong but he wants to go where he can get guaranteed football. He would have had opportunities here but I can only pick 11.”
