Former Charlton youth player and current Sheppey United striker Alex Willis enjoying a rich vein of form

Sheppey United striker Alex Willis is making the most of his chance to shine.

A winning goal and a man-of-the-match performance at Sevenoaks on Saturday was another step in the right direction for a striker who has had to be patient for his opportunity.

Willis came into the starting XI against Lancing last month, where he netted late on in a 3-0 win. He then hit a brace against Merstham, scored in last Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Beckenham and added another goal to his tally on Saturday.

It’s the kind of form that the former Charlton academy hot-shot has been used to in his early years.

“I have always scored goals and I have to continue doing it, I am enjoying it at the moment,” said Willis, ahead of Sheppey’s midweek game against Ramsgate last night (Tuesday), which ended in a 1-0 defeat.

“I was just waiting for that opportunity. It can be difficult coming off the bench and at the start of the season I was just getting 10 minutes towards the end of games.”

Willis claimed the only goal of the game in the 1-0 away win at Sevenoaks.

“I got man-of-the-match as well and I was very happy,” he said. “That was from the fans and they always follow us in good numbers, home and away, they’re really passionate so to be selected by them is a nice feeling.”

Willis was offered a one-year professional contract at Charlton at the end of a two-year scholarship programme with the South London club. He’d been there since the age of eight, scoring over 500 goals in 10 years.

But he chose instead to go America, where he combined his football with a degree, and the goals kept flowing. The Covid pandemic meant his stay in the States lasted longer than anticipated, and he returned home at the beginning of the year, initially joining Faversham