Player-manager Jack Midson dedicated Sheppey’s Isthmian South East Swale derby victory on Saturday at Faversham to their fans.

Prolific marksman Warren Mfula's first-half hat-trick was enough to earn them a 3-2 victory, extending their unbeaten league run to four games, in front of a crowd of 494. The attendance included a healthy away contingent at a wet Salters Lane.

The Ites were beaten 1-0 at home to Sittingbourne in August but now appear to be finding their feet at Step 4 and are 10th with matches in hand on the three teams above them.

Midson said: “We let ourselves down in the Sittingbourne game at home, we didn’t show the fight those fans deserve.

“But we showed the fight today. They gave us plenty of noise and we got the win and it was for them.

“It was always going to be tough here, with the conditions and the pitch. They’re fighting for their lives and they had a go.

“We scored some good goals. I think we should really have put them to bed in the first half but they showed a bit of fight and came back, and we had to dig deep to get the points.

• Report: Faversham 2-3 Sheppey

"Three or four weeks ago, I think we wouldn't have that mentality but we have turned a corner.

“We’re mentally stronger and working for each other, so it’s going well.”

Mfula’s latest treble - his third of the season - took him to 16 goals this campaign.

But leading 3-2 at half-time, the visitors had to put in an organised defensive display after the restart to ensure they took the points.

“They [Faversham] had to come out and have a go,” said the 39-year-old, who gave a debut to recently-signed left-sided player Tom Hanfrey.

“We’ve signed Tom Hanfrey, who gives us that height and security at the back. Sometimes, we like to play a three but it gave us a chance to play a four at the back.

“Obviously Tom is really good at left-back but, later on, we can push him a bit higher up potentially and we have Frankie [Morgan] doing really well on the left.

“We have a good set-up - and we’re only getting better. That’s good.”

Sheppey are at home on Tuesday to Burgess Hill in the league before another match at Holm Park next weekend against Cray Valley.