Sheppey boss Ernie Batten is confident of a much-improved performance when they tackle title rivals Chatham on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Ites weren’t at their best as they overcame a spirited K Sports side 2-0 at Holm Park, clinching the points from a tough Monday outing with goals from Billy Bennett and Warren Mfula.

Batten’s men got away with a few dicey moments against K Sports before Mfula finally calmed the nerves with the second goal in stoppage time. Freescoring Chatham are unlikely to be so forgiving.

Chats sit top of the Southern Counties East Premier Division table, four points clear of second-placed Sheppey, having played two games more. They defeated Kennington 7-1 in their Bank Holiday fixture with a couple of goals from ex-Ites striker Dan Bradshaw.

Batten said: “We need to improve massively at Chatham if we are to come away with something and I believe we can because we play to the opposition a bit.

“We haven’t played particularly well (against K Sports) but I am expecting us to be a different team again.

“They have got some guns, they have some quality, but we have a good record against them. It could be an absolute cracker of a game in front of what I imagine will be a huge crowd over there. It will be a big day and a big performance is needed.”

A crowd of 341 watched on at Holm Park as The Ites overcame K Sports, taking an early lead as Bennett latched on to Malachi Hudson’s weighted pass inside the box before calmly slotting home on 13 minutes

Home fans might have been expecting a feast of goals but it wasn’t to be. K Sports had some chances, none better than when Adam Molloy slipped but with the net empty Ziyad Ghali would have expected to score, only for the Sheppey keeper to make a superb recovery save.

Neither keeper was overly troubled after the break, Mfula heading a couple of chances wide and the visiting goalie making a routine save from Jefferson Aibangbee.

Mfula - back with the Ites after spending the first half of the season at Isthmian Premier Corinthian Casuals - scored on his first game back, combining with Bennett to seal the victory.

Batten added: “I was disappointed with the performance although delighted to get the points.

“You try to play good, expansive football but it comes down to individual performances and we had a lot of players below their usual levels.

“I also give a lot of credit to K Sports, I know Barry (Morgan, their manager) well, he was my assistant, he has a bunch of young boys with a couple of experienced players and I think they were exceptional.

“In some ways it was a bit of a cup final experience for them and I thought they gave their all. First half I thought they might have sneaked a goal.

“We improved second half a bit but I don’t think we reached the standards we can. We put an extra man in midfield because I thought we were short there.

“When they broke they seemed to go through us too easily and that made a difference. We finally got that second goal but it was never safe until we did.

“I had warned the lads before the game that Barry would have them fired up but there were too many players that didn’t perform to the levels they can.”

There was no Jack Midson in the Sheppey side, the captain back on the sidelines with a knee injury.