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Sheppey United goalkeeper Aiden Prall feels the team has every chance of maintaining their positive early league form for the remainder of the season.
Prall made his 100th appearance for the club on Saturday in the FA Cup, and has been involved in Sheppey’s last two league campaigns, narrowly missing out on the play-offs in both. He feels they’re well set to take the next step this term.
“The old cliche is you take it game by game, never too high or too low,” said Prall, speaking before their cup replay.
“It’s about continuing it for the rest of the season now.
“It’s a very tough league this year, a lot of quality about, a lot of big teams, with big budgets and big followings and very good clubs in general.
“I think it’s going to be very tight towards the back end of the season but we’ll take it game by game and if we can keep ticking off the wins then happy days.”
Sheppey have won their opening three games in the Isthmian South East.
Prall said: “In every season we have always believed we could do it.
“The first season (following promotion from the Southern Counties East Premier Division) we fell short by two points, drawing 2-2 in a hell of a game against Cray Valley.
“At one point we were in the play-offs, at one point they were, we both ended up out of it in a rollercoaster of a game.
“Last season, to an extent, we maybe got distracted by the FA Cup run, which had an affect on how many games we played.
“We didn’t have a massive squad and we were pretty stretched. You could tell by February and March when our form dropped the boys were starting to feel the affects of having so many games.
“Every season we feel like we could or should be there and it’s the same this year.
“We have added some real quality and players who have been in the play-offs before like Sinnkaye Christie, Gil Carvalho and Jordy Ndozid who were there with Haywards Heath a few years ago.
“It is not like we are an inexperienced team anymore. Last year we were very young but those young players have had 40-50 games at the level and we’ve also added in players who have been there and done it.”
The Ites drew 1-1 at home to Hanwell Town in the FA Cup first qualifying round on Saturday but were soundly beaten in the replay on Prall’s 26th birthday.
It wasn’t a night to savour as they lost 6-0.
Sheppey will hope to bounce back at home to Ramsgate this Saturday in the FA Trophy first qualifying round. They return to league action at home to Erith Town on Tuesday night.
Erith have drawn once and won their next two at the new level after winning promotion last season.
Looking back to Saturday’s game, Prall said: “It’s a shame we couldn’t cap the 100th appearance with a win - it was a good game, both sides at the end of the game probably could have nicked it.
“From our view the manner of the goal and when it came was a bit disappointing, if we had held on for another five minutes or so we could have got through, but from a neutral point of view I’d imagine it was a good game to watch.”
Dan Carr had put Sheppey ahead on 62 minutes but Hanwell, who a play a level above in the Southern League Premier, took the tie to a replay with an 85th-minute equaliser.
Looking ahead to games against Ramsgate and Erith Town, Prall added: “Erith are coming off a treble-winning season and will be full of confidence and from what I have heard they are a hard-working, honest group of players. I am sure they will be a good test.
“Ramsgate are coming off a season which they thought they should have done better after being top for so long. They have something to prove.
“Both will be very tough but games we love to be involved in. These are the games you thrive off.”
The Ites, meanwhile, have confirmed the departure of midfielder Josh Wisson.
The club said: “All the best to midfielder Josh Wisson who's left us following a 7 day approach, with Wisso also seeking more regular football than he's got so far this season - with the Ites having several midfield options on their books.”
