James Bessey-Saldanha has described Sheppey’s squad as one of the most naturally cohesive he has been involved in during his career.

The 27-year-old winger enjoyed The Ites’ best moment in the national spotlight on Friday night, scoring a fantastic first-half goal in their televised First-Round tie against Walsall - before the League 2 outfit hit back to run out 4-1 winners.

Now, Sheppey’s focus switches to Isthmian South East matters after their memorable cup run. Bessey-Saldanha thinks it will be a disappointing league campaign if they aren’t promoted at the end of it after they narrowly missed out on a play-off berth last term.

“The squad we have got is phenomenal,” he said. “The players we have are brilliant.

“I don’t think I have ever played with a team that gels so well naturally.

“So, I really do think we have got a good chance of getting promoted this season.

“If we don’t get promoted, it will be a big disappointment.”

Bessey-Saldanha already has Isthmian Premier experience. He moved to Holm Park in the summer after a few seasons with Margate.

He said: “This is a club that I have always looked at and thought: ‘That’s a good football club.’ That’s one of the reasons I came.

“The squad has stayed mostly the same from last season. There’s been a couple of additions, myself included, and we have only strengthened.

“We should carry this momentum forward.”

It would also appear Bessey-Saldanha has a knack for superb long-range goals.

His special strike against Walsall was his first competitive goal of the campaign - albeit another effort this term came in similarly impressive fashion in a pre-season friendly against a Gillingham XI.

Bessey-Saldanha, who also netted in Tuesday’s 2-0 home league win over Beckenham, said: “I’m probably one of the players who has had the most shots in the squad!

“It was my first goal of the season - what a goal it was - so I’m very pleased with that.”