Sheppey United 0 Chertsey Town 2 match report: Second-half strike from substitute Bradley Wilson and Seb Bowerman’s late penalty end Ites’ FA Cup journey for the season at third qualifying round stage

Sheppey United’s FA Cup journey for the season ended at the hands of higher-division Chertsey Town on Saturday.

With the third qualifying round tie goalless at half-time, first-half substitute Bradley Wilson broke the deadlock before midfielder Seb Bowerman converted a penalty as it finished 2-0 at Holm Park to Town who - by their own admission - were below-par.

Chertsey debutant Jesse Effa had only narrowly avoided a caution inside the first two minutes as he caught the impressive centre-half Harlain Mbayo in midfield.

Backed by a healthy away contingent, they first threatened when goalkeeper Harley Earle was called into action as he tipped wide Bowerman’s 15th-minute shot before right-back Harry Lawrence cleared off the line from the resultant corner.

Isthmian South East United - who had already seen off Kennington (6-2), Rusthall (3-0), Redhill (2-1) and Snodland Town (1-0) under joint-bosses Ian Batten and George Batten to reach this stage - again went close midway through the first period. The recalled D’Jean Spencer fired into the side-netting from a cross by skipper Danny Leonard after Mbayo’s clever turn.

There were then opportunities at each end as Earle got down low after an in-swinging right-wing cross by Conor Lee had caused problems. Leonard burst clean through on goal at the other end, albeit keeper Luke Wynne-Roberts stayed big to deny him.

The visitors had optimistic penalty protests turned down by referee Morgan Conn in the 37th minute when a long-range effort allegedly crashed against the hand of makeshift centre-back Josh Wisson before Wynne-Roberts got down to thwart Spencer at the other end.

Southern League Premier Division South high-fliers Town were forced into a first-half change as Wilson was