Sheppey United boss Ernie Batten takes share of blame for 5-0 loss at Ramsgate as Ites sign former Derby County forward Jahmal Hector-Ingram

Ernie Batten has explained why he refused to be too critical of Sheppey’s players after their horror show at Ramsgate.

The Ites’ perfect start to the Isthmian South East season emphatically ended at Southwood, losing 5-0 last weekend.

While Ramsgate’s squad was packed with players boasting higher-division experience, there was a much more youthful feel to Sheppey’s side.

Boss Batten, whose third-placed team are at Merstham tonight, said: “It is about experience. I said to them after the game ‘I’m not going to hammer you’.

“We have got to learn from it but I’ll take some responsibility for Saturday, as well, because we probably over-analysed everything - and forgot to play ourselves. That’s down to me.

“We’re in it together and, hopefully, we can put it right.

“If we win on Tuesday, we have won seven of our first eight in the league, which isn’t a bad start. It’s a long season.

Report: Ramsgate 5-0 Sheppey

Boss Batten takes big lesson from heavy defeat

“Seven (league) games have been played and there’s 42 games, so it’s still incredibly early.

“Even Ramsgate themselves have had a couple of (cup) defeats recently, which shows anything can happen in football. It can be brutal.

“We just weren’t at the races on Saturday and it was just one of those days.”

Goals from winger Alfie Paxman (2), captain Joe Taylor, midfielder Benny Bioletti and substitute Josh Ajayi consigned the Ites to a first league defeat in front of a crowd of 1,053 that included a healthy away contingent. They endured an afternoon to forget in Thanet.

But Batten is confident the display was a one-off.

“They’re a good bunch of lads and they’ll want to put that right,” he said.

“They will be hurting - like we all are - and, hopefully, we can use that