Snodland Town 0 Sheppey United 1 match report: FA Cup second qualifying round settled by Mikey Salako’s penalty

Sheppey United edged a keenly-fought Kent FA Cup derby at Snodland Town on Saturday.

The Southern Counties East League hosts proved more than a match for their Isthmian South East visitors in front of a bumper crowd of 621.

But the game was settled by Mikey Salako’s penalty with 16 minutes remaining.

Snodland settled quickly going down the slope and loan striker Kian Scott had an early shot saved by returning Sheppey keeper Harley Earle.

Harry Hudson’s 20-yard snapshot went wide for the hosts before Sheppey’s Harry Lawrence collected an 11th-minute booking after his poor challenge on Nathaniel Olawole after an initial heavy touch.

The resulting free-kick was headed back across goal by Snodland player-boss Connor Dymond but Ben Fitchett directed his header over the bar.

Dymond sent a left-foot curler from 20 yards just past the angle of bar and post before Sheppey responded through skipper Danny Leonard, who advanced into the box before being denied by the legs of keeper Frankie Leonard from an acute angle.

Dymond was in the thick of the action, crossing for Hudson to head goalwards and force a save from Earle before being booked for a crude challenge on Mikey Salako as the visitors looked to counter.

Salako had a sight of goal just before the half-hour but Fitchett produced a tremendous save after centre-back partner Kevin Akpoefafe’s sliced clearance had presented the Sheppey striker with the opening.

Sheppey’s Kaelem Sobhee-Turner, playing his second game, after also featuring in the win at Redhill in the previous round, sliced his shot wide in stoppage time before Scott warmed the palms of Earle at the other end as the teams went in level at the break.

Snodland also started the second half well but they failed to