Sheppey United manager Ernie Batten’s gamble pays off as 10-man Ites win from a goal down | FA Cup next up sparking memories of last season’s run to first round

Fortune favoured the brave as 10-man Sheppey made a winning start to the Isthmian South East season.

The Ites were already a goal down at Three Bridges on Saturday when Harry Hogben was controversially sent off midway through the second half.

But damage limitation was the last thing on manager Ernie Batten’s mind and his commitment to attack was rewarded as Jacob Lambert and Dan Bradshaw struck in the last 11 minutes to earn a 2-1 victory.

It sets them up nicely for their FA Cup preliminary round tie at North Greenford this Saturday (3pm), the Ites’ first game in the competition since their historic run to the first round proper last season.

“We made a couple of substitutions and went three at the back,” said Batten.

“My view is you may as well lose three or four as lose 1-0 so we went for it with 10 men.

“The two subs that came on, Victor Aiyelabola and Eitel Goueth, linked up well on the right and cut the back for Jacob, who does what Jacob does with a lovely sidefoot finish.

“I’ve always had the view that I want to try and win the game, no matter what.

“We could have reverted to a back four and settled for a point but we decided to leave it as it was because even with 10 men, we weren’t under any kind of pressure.

“I think Aiden Prall maybe had one save to make when they got us on the break but apart from that we were pretty much camped in their half.

“I took the view that if we’re doing that, why don’t we try and go for the win? As it turned out, we got it.

“Gil Carvalho’s cut it back and there’s Dan to poke it home.

“You can always rely on Dan to be in the box.

“It’s something you can’t coach. You can say get in the box, make your runs but it’s a bit of an instinct really.

“I was a striker myself and you try to