More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Sheppey United boss Ernie Batten has called for cool heads from his players ahead of their big game against Corinthian this weekend.
Both are in the running for the Southern Counties East Premier Division title behind current leaders Beckenham Town.
Batten knows his team face some big matches over the coming weeks – and this is one of them.
“All games are massive but like I have always said, you do need to be taking points off teams around you,” said Batten.
“It’s a six-pointer and a big game but we have several big games in February, with our Kent Senior Trophy semi-final after this and a game against Beckenham (at home on Saturday, February 22).
“We will take each game at a time and although this could be a big one, it’s just another game.
“We need to be disciplined. We had two players sent off in the previous match against them, that killed us, we were over-excited about it.
“We need to keep calm and play with determination, have fire in our bellies but stay calm, and if we do that then we have a chance.”
Sheppey lost the reverse fixture 3-1, with Billy Bennett and Ola Williams dismissed. Since then the Ites have found form and an abundance of goals.
Corinthian, meanwhile, are on a great run, winning their last seven matches in a row.
The Ites head into the game on the back of a 5-0 thumping of Punjab United, a game which saw Miles Cornwell score twice in only his third league start.
Cornwell came in for Laurent Hamici and deserved his chance.
Batten said: “He has good pedigree after being at Sittingbourne and on contract with Folkestone but he has been on the periphery.
“He’s been very professional about it, and in the last couple of games he had come off the bench and done well, playing up top against Beckenham and then against Erith Town.
“Hamici dropped to the bench and that was a tough decision, as he was at Punjab previously, so this was a chance to play against his old mates. But I have to make these decisions – I do what I think is right.
“We lost Rob Denness to Chatham and I can only do what I think is right. I subbed him (Denness) against Beckenham for Miles and we end up scoring a last-minute equaliser. You either get it right or you don’t.”
