Sheppey United assistant boss Geoff Record was handed the reins last weekend and he earned his post-match drink after a comeback thriller at Holm Park.

The Ites lost a key man ahead of the match, picked up another injury during it, and Record was tasked with turning things around at 2-0 down after less than 30 minutes against Merstham. They did just that, winning 4-3 thanks to a 92nd-minute goal.

“What an unbelievable game,” said Record, in charge due to manager Ernie Batten’s pre-arranged trip away.

“I mean, the manager’s away, we’re 2-0 down at home, one of the worst scenarios you could have. At 12 o’clock we lost our central midfield player, Jordy Ndozid with a personal issue, so he was unavailable.

“On the Thursday we had sent Victor Aiye, one of our strikers, out on loan to Larkfield and we had Harry Ogben, who wasn’t available and then the start was our worst nightmare.

“You’re 2-0 down, biggest crowd of the season and there are groans around the ground.”

Just shy of 500 turned up at Holm Park, but a fine strike from Jacob Lambert pulled a goal back for the hosts. Unfortunately, there was always a setback around the corner every time things took a turn for the better, but the game finished well.

Lambert’s 32nd-minute goal was soon followed by an injury to defender Joe Ganiwa, which meant a reshuffle and Eitel Goueth making an earlier than expected introduction off the bench.

A 2-1 deficit was cancelled out through Dan Bradshaw on 63 minutes but straight away the visitors responded to take a 3-2 lead.

It needed a second Lambert effort to restore parity at 3-3 and then in stoppage time Sheppey broke forward, substitute Goueth’s first effort hit a defender and he was composed enough to dig out a fine shot from inside the box, curling it beyond the keeper to win the game.

“They were all good finishes,” said Record.

“Jacob crashed his first goal right in the top corner - if it hadn’t been for the net that would have ended up in the farmer’s field behind a goal. That goal gave everyone a big lift.

“We changed shape halfway through that first half, we went narrow in midfield and at that point I honestly felt the lads believed they could turn it around and that’s exactly what they did.

“There were times when things were going wrong, Joe has nailed that right-back position, really. He’d been playing very, very well but when he went off Mams (Diallo), our left-back, went to right-back. Rhys (Wyborn), who I think is a natural left-back, was playing in midfield because of Jordy missing and so he went to left-back and then Eitel came on, went into midfield and he ended up getting a winner!

“It was a real nice, silky finish, bending it around the goalkeeper into the far corner.

“I think during the match I had three heart attacks but we managed to get over the line and it was an enjoyable drink in the bar afterwards!

“Anyone at that game must have loved it. I know it’s not an ideal situation to go 2-0 down at home. But if you’re a football person, to have seven goals in a game and to end up winning, it can’t get much more enjoyable than that.

“They were all good goals, either involving good passing movements, good crosses, and I thought some outstanding finishing.”

Isthmian South East table