New arrivals at Sheppey United have been a welcome boost with two on show as they returned to winning ways at the weekend.

Former Millwall academy midfielder Frankie Maciocia scored a stoppage-time third goal for Sheppey on Saturday in their 3-1 victory over Phoenix Sports.

Maciocia, 18, left the Lions in the summer and had previously been at Cray Wanderers as a junior and started the season at Chatham Town, without making an appearance. He made an immediate impact for the Ites while fellow teen Joe Tyrie, 17, started the match in defence, making his debut after joining on a dual registration deal from National South Tonbridge.

Assistant boss Geoff Record said: “Frankie impressed when he trained with us, he is good on the ball, can play and he scored with a lovely finish - burying the ball in the corner after hitting it first time.

“Joe’s only young himself but he has got a bit more experience and was involved at Sittingbourne last year, in their push to get into the play-offs.

“He has also got his experience at Tonbridge Angels and I think he will be a good signing once he settles in.

“I would like to think those new faces are a boost to the other players because there is nothing better in football than having competition for your shirt.

“You can say what you like, do what you like, but if you have that, that is the biggest motivator at any level that you could possibly have.

“If you know that you are in the side but you have someone who is breathing down your neck for your shirt then all of a sudden you find an extra yard or two.”

Eitel Goueth scored Sheppey’s opener against Phoenix and experienced striker Dan Bradshaw doubled the lead. The visitors got one back but Maciocia wrapped up the three points in stoppage time.

Record said: “The conditions were awful, it was so hard to play any decent football, the wind and the rain dictated the way both teams played but we scored three good goals.

“We lost the previous game and we wanted to bounce back and that is what the boys have done on a number of occasions when we’ve had a defeat, they’ve bounced back really well.”

The Ites not only had a couple of young new recruits in the side but some homegrown youth too, with Harrison McCall impressing at right-back before going off with a hamstring injury and being replaced by another former under-23s player in Bailey Catherick.

Jack Marsh helped create the goal for fellow substitute Maciocia and there was a place on the bench for 16-year-old Louis Way.

McCall is now expected to be missing for several weeks.

Catherick, Maciocia and Marsh were all involved on Tuesday night in Sheppey’s 4-2 win at Margate in the Velocity Cup.

Margate led after 25 minutes but early in the second half Victor Aiye levelled it up before a nine-minute hat-trick from Gil Carvalho put the hosts out of sight.

The Ites will now host Dartford in round four.

Sheppey are at home to Eastbourne Town this Saturday in the league.

Record said: “Harrison might be out for several weeks now. We have got Jordy Ndozid our midfield player who has two injuries and Joe Ganiwa is out with an ankle and Jacob Lambert has been playing for the last few games but also had an ankle injury. He’s sucked it up and got on with it but his ankle had been a bit tender and he could be a doubt this weekend.

“Eastbourne beat Deal Town on Saturday 5-3 so it shows once again that no matter who you play in this league you can expect it to be tough.

“Phoenix on Saturday had a completely different team to the one we played a few months back and I would expect them to do well now.

“We’re at home but up until now we haven’t played one easy game in our league. With the injuries we’ve got over the last few weeks we have done well to stay in contention.

“We were disappointed to lose to Burgess Hill the other week, another team looking to get in the top five, but we’re pleased we’re still in touch (with the play-off places).”