Sheppey United boss Ernie Batten reacts to their televised 4-1 FA Cup First-Round home defeat to League 2 Walsall at Holm Park

Proud Sheppey United boss Ernie Batten felt his players performed well against Football League outfit Walsall in their FA Cup First-Round tie in front of the television cameras on Friday night.

The Ites took a shock lead against their League 2 visitors, four divisions higher than Isthmian South East Sheppey - who had been the lowest-ranked side left in this season’s competition - when winger James Bessey-Saldanha blasted home in spectacular fashion.

But forward Douglas James-Taylor equalised in the first half to dampen hopes of an FA Cup upset. Second-half strikes from Tom Knowles, Ross Tierney and Isaac Hutchinson ensured it finished 4-1 to Walsall in front of a 1,450-strong crowd at Holm Park.

“I’m very proud,” reflected Batten. “I thought we acquitted ourselves very well.

“It’s always difficult against a full-time, professional, team. Their fitness levels are much higher.

“But I thought, overall, that we did well, especially in the first half where I think we matched them over the park.”

Bessey-Saldanha picked the perfect occasion to get his first competitive goal of the campaign as his long-range drive sent Sheppey’s supporters into dreamland.

Report: Sheppey United 1-4 Walsall

Batten said: “He has been hitting the cows in the back of the field for most of the season!

“He’s struggled to find the target - but wow. He made up for it with that one. It was a great goal.”

With the match evenly-poised at 1-1, and player-of-the-match Sheppey keeper Aiden Prall in fine form, the hosts could easily have retaken the lead in the early stages of the second half. But substitute Alex Willis and defender Connor Wilkins both failed to hit the target with crucial chances.

Batten accepted the game could have panned out differently