Sheppey United manager Ernie Batten targeting quadruple as Ites gear up for Kent Senior Trophy final

Promotion is in the bag but celebrations are on hold as Sheppey chase a unique quadruple.

The Ites secured a top-two finish in Southern Counties East and a place in Isthmian South East after a 2-1 win at Crowborough last Tuesday.

But there’s still a title to be won and Sheppey moved five points of rivals Chatham by thrashing fourth-placed Deal 7-1 at Holm Park on Saturday.

Warren Mfula scored a second-half hat-trick, with two goals apiece for Billy Bennett and Reece Grant. Chatham dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Punjab.

Tonight, the Ites take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of their Challenge Cup semi-final at Sutton Athletic.

Then, having already won the delayed 2019/20 Kent Senior Trophy this season, the Ites will attempt to win this year’s competition when they meet Hollands & Blair at the Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone on Sunday (2pm).

Sheppey proved they still had their eye on the ball in their destruction of Deal and manager Ernie Batten has urged his players to keep it that way and hoover up the trophies.

“I think, with promotion assured, Saturday was really an expression of players playing with the utmost confidence,” said Batten.

“Deal are a very strong outfit, with a good defensive record, but everything clicked. We were so fluid we were always going to win that game.

“It was just a matter of how many by and we could have had more but seven was a fair reflection.

“Everyone, to a man, played at their very best levels.

“We haven’t celebrated the promotion yet because there’s still a lot of work to do.

“We’re in pole position in the league after Chatham drew but we haven’t won anything yet.

“We’ve got a chance of winning the league and the Kent Senior Trophy again and we could be in the Challenge Cup final.

“I’ve