Sheppey United have clinched a top-two spot in the Southern Counties East Premier Division and promotion to the Isthmian League.

A 2-1 victory at Crowborough Athletic on Tuesday night was enough to ensure they can’t be caught after third-placed Glebe were held to a 1-1 draw by Deal Town.

Warren Mfula struck twice for Sheppey in the midweek win, the crucial second sealing the three points and promotion with seven minutes remaining. Jacob Lambert had cancelled out Mfula’s eighth-minute opener at the Crowborough Community stadium but the Ites hit back to win it late on.

The top two in the Premier Division will go up this season, the winners automatically and the second-placed team promoted as one of the top step five teams on points per game, which they will do with some ease. Chatham Town could now seal their promotion at the weekend if they win at Punjab United on Saturday.

Sheppey and Chatham were the pre-season favourites for promotion and are well clear of the next best team, Glebe, who have dropped off the pace in recent weeks.

Sheppey, with four league games remaining, host fourth-placed Deal Town on Saturday.

Promotion follows a win in the delayed 2019/20 Kent Senior Trophy already this season for The Ites, a place in this year’s final (to be played on Sunday, April 10 against Hollands & Blair) and a semi-final spot in the Challenge Cup where they lead Sutton Athletic 2-1 from the first leg.