Warren Mfula has yet to add a promotion to his CV but his weekend hat-trick pushed Sheppey United a little closer on Saturday.

The hot-shot striker has been in scintillating form as The Ites have continued to push Chatham Town every step of the way for the Southern Counties East Premier Division title.

Sheppey won 3-0 on Saturday and the top two remain well on course to clinch a place in the Isthmian League next season.

His scoring form continued on Tuesday as he netted in a 2-1 victory over Sutton Athletic in the semi-final first-leg of the Challenge Cup.

Mfula has always scored goals but the closest he got to promotion was in the play-offs at old club Dartford.

He said: “Every club I have been at I have scored so many goals but I have never got promoted. This would be my first, which is why I am really looking forward to it and making sure my game is up there so I have no regrets until April 23 (when the season ends).

“There is nothing to separate ourselves and Chatham really, they are a really good side as well, we are pushing each other to the limit.

“We can’t be too over confident saying we have got this in the bag. On paper it looks good, but we still have to put the work in and get those three points every week.”

Sheppey and Chatham are tied on 84 points at the top of the Premier Division table with six games to play. The Medway side lead the way on goal difference. Third-placed Glebe have games in hand but have been dropping points lately and are drifting away.

Mfula left Sheppey in the summer as he was unable to commit because of his work, but returned to Holm Park in December after changing jobs. During the day he’s a financial accountant and at Sheppey the goals have flowed.

The experienced striker has tasted life at a number of clubs, including Croydon Athletic, the Darts, VCD, Corinthian-Casuals and Burgess Hill. He believes the facilities at Sheppey are a big factor in helping him find top form.

He said: “We are not a professional club but the way things are set up at Sheppey it gives you those professional vibes. When I go to Sheppey, I just worry about playing football. We are looked after, everything is there, I just have to worry about playing and doing my best, and getting good results for the club.

“For this level of non-league football it is up there with the best.”

Even the commute from London has been made easier for Mfula as several of his team-mates make the same trip and he’s forged a great rapport with the current captain, Billy Bennett.

“He is an amazing captain and an amazing guy,” Mfula said.

“In that changing room there is not a player that is above anyone, we respect each other the same. We are all treated equally and we have Jack Midson [injured club captain] in the changing room as well, one of the nicest people I have come across in my life.

“There are no big-time players, we have so much laughter, but we demand a lot off each other as well, on the pitch there might be arguments, but it is never personal, it is because of the demands that we have for each other.

“We play for Sheppey and set a standard that we have to maintain. If my team is not doing it then I will be on people’s cases, to be the best. If I am not doing it, I expect people to tell me as well.”

Sheppey have already won the delayed 2019/20 Kent Senior Trophy this season and are in the final of the 2020/21 version on Sunday, April 10. They now have one foot in the final of the Challenge Cup following their midweek win over Sutton Athletic.

Max Oldham put them infront on Tuesday and Mfula added the second after the break before Conor Evans pulled one back to give Athletic hope in the second leg.

Sheppey are back in Premier Division action on Saturday when they visit third from bottom Rusthall.