Sheppey United captain Richie Hamill looks ahead to a Swale derby against Sittingbourne after Isthmian South East wins over Littlehampton and Lancing

Sheppey United head into a Boxing Day derby at home to Sittingbourne back on track after a post-FA Cup lull.

Three successive wins have propelled Ernie Batten’s side into the thick of the Isthmian South East play-off places.

The Ites have taken maximum points from two tough trips to West Sussex, with a 2-1 win at Lancing on Saturday following a 6-0 thrashing of Littlehampton Town last Tuesday.

Captain Richie Hamill is delighted to see their form re-ignited after following up their FA Cup defeat to Walsall last month with successive losses in the league.

Hamill said: “We had a bit of a lull after the FA Cup, a little bit of a hangover, but we have been back on track in the last five or six games and been a lot better.

“It’s helped to have players like Dan Bradshaw and Danny Leonard come back into the squad (from injury) which strengthens us. We had been a bit light on numbers in the squad and that didn’t help.

“It was probably a bit of a mental thing as well after the FA Cup being such a high and then coming back to league action, but we are now looking forward to Boxing Day.”

The Ites have taken 14 points from their last six games, unbeaten since the 6-0 drubbing at Three Bridges last month.

Leonard marked his return on Saturday by scoring an 88th-minute winner, cutting inside from the wing and finishing well.

“The game on Saturday could have gone either way, really,” admitted the skipper.

“We had a couple of chances near the end and snatched it. It was probably a bit harsh on them and a draw would have been a fair result, but we were very happy with the win.

“I have seen Danny do that loads of times, coming in off the left or the right. It wasn’t a massive surprise to a lot of us and it was massive to have him back. It