Mounting injury problems are hampering Sheppey United’s bid to build momentum, with Cameron Andrews facing a spell on the sidelines after a “horrific” challenge.

Sheppey took the lead at Margate in their Isthmian South East clash on Tuesday night thanks to Danny Leonard’s sixth-minute opener. But Stanley Oldfield levelled a minute into the second half and Bradley Schafer scored to seal a 2-1 win for the hosts.

The Ites ended the game with 10 men after a challenge on Cameron Andrews left him unable to continue. They were already without Mo Dabo, D'Jean Spencer, Alfie Evans and Mams Diallo and will need to check on Harlain Mbayo after he also went off injured in the match.

Joint boss George Batten said: “It’s not good enough. We were totally comfortable in the first half and in the second we went out and did the opposite of what we asked them to do. Sat back, weren’t brave enough on the ball, we gave Margate control of the game and they deserved to win.

On the injury issues, he said: “It is a horrific challenge on Cameron; could be a broken ankle. It was a poor challenge...They should have had a player sent off for that tackle.

He added: “We need to strengthen, but it is not an easy process getting good players through the door.”

Sheppey went into their midweek clash off the back of a 2-1 away win against Steyning Town on Saturday.

Centre-back Josh Wisson put them ahead in the first half, Steyning levelled through Adam Adam after the break but Harry Lawrence’s sweeping cross from out wide deceived the keeper and ended up in the back of the net for an 85th-minute winner.

Reacting to their weekend win, joint manager Ian Batten said: “We could have been two or three-up at half-time but in the second half they were good, to be fair to them, and they probably feel they were a bit unlucky not to get a point. But we’ve felt like that this season, so I felt like we were owed that one.”

Both goals on Saturday were scored by defenders, with Wisson scoring a well-taken effort.

He’s been playing centre-half this season, rather than his more accustomed midfield role, and he’s done it well.

“We definitely see him as the centre-half now,” said the manager. “Although we’ve got Ben Clark away on Saturday and Cameron Andrews could be missing, so he might be back in central midfield!

“But it’s handy to have that option. He’s good in the air, he’s comfortable on the ball, so he can get us out from the back with his passing and sometimes longer passing.

“He’s fantastic in the changing room, he’s a popular boy, and he’s an osteopath as well, so I’ll ask him to crack my back up when he can!”

“We’ve got a good dressing room, which really does help. When the times get tough, you need to have a good dressing room, where there’s people sort of getting round each other, rather than heads down and feeling sorry for yourself.

“Hopefully we don’t have a bad spell, but we’ve got good characters to get through that sort of stuff.”

It’s been a hit and miss season for the Ites so far, currently playing catch-up after a busy first two months of cup football.

Ian Batten said: “Like anyone, if you put a five or six-game run together, you’d be cemented in those play-off places. If we can put a run together, we’ll be right up there.”

Sheppey are at home to Horley Town on Saturday, a team they beat 4-0 in their league opener back in August.

Batten said: “They have picked up some decent results - they recently beat Sittingbourne and they’ve also beaten Hastings - so we know they are capable.

“I think they’ve found their feet a bit now and if you’re not on it in this division, you’ll get beaten. It’s as simple as that.”