Danny Leonard’s “nerve-racking” return to Sheppey could yet end in play-off glory. Leonard rejoined the Ites last summer after spending a year with Dartford.
The winger showed his quality at Princes Park but found it hard to juggle National South commitments with work and family life.
Sheppey, fresh from winning the quadruple, went back in for him and while Leonard took time to rediscover his best form, he’s been a big part of an Ites team who are fighting for an Isthmian South East play-off place. “I loved the year I spent at Dartford but it’s nice to be back at Sheppey,” said Leonard, who scored the winner in a 1-0 victory at Ashford on Easter Monday. “It feels like I’ve never been away. “It was a bit nerve-racking coming back but the fans have been great with me. “The move to Dartford came out of the blue. “We knew they were looking but it kind of just happened and I was gone. “So there was that side of it and there was pressure because Sheppey won four trophies last year. “I know we’ve gone up a league, so there’s pressure on everyone, but I put pressure on myself to hit the form I was in before. “I had a target at the start of the season to get into double figures for both assists and goals. “I’ve got 15 or 16 assists and I need two more goals after scoring on Monday. “If I could get double figures in both, that would be a good return.” Sheppey’s win at Ashford was their fourth in a row, having also beaten Three Bridges 3-2 on Saturday, and a sixth in seven games.
They’ve been one of the form sides in the division since Christmas, working their way up the table under player-boss Jack Midson, who’s impressed in his first season in charge.