1 day Ago By [email protected] (Luke Cawdell)
Dan Bradshaw bagged another double at the weekend in a season that could be his last. Sheppey United’s 34-year-old prolific striker has suggested he could hang his boots up at the end of this season but his manager’s warned him against making a rash decision. Geoff Record played on until his forties, as did the late, great Ernie Batten.
Bradshaw’s had to play on through niggling injuries which have limited his game-time but Record watched the striker once again show his natural goalscoring instincts in a 4-1 win over Broadbridge Heath on Saturday. That brace came after scoring twice in an emotional game against Deal Town the week before. Record said: “He’s unbelievable.
At 34 years of age, Dan, by his own admission, doesn't move in the way that he once did, because he was so explosive and dynamic. “He doesn’t do that anymore, but in and around the box, he’s still got a knack for goals, so fair pay to him. “(Retirement) would be up to him, but myself and Ernie always felt that you’re a long time retired, don’t go too early.
We played into our forties and when everyone told us you should think about packing up, we refused. “I live by the rule that you’re a long time retired. It’s a massive decision.
He should play for as long as he can possibly run.” The Ites led early on against Broadbridge Heath thanks to Jack Marsh’s well-hit effort - his first goal for the club at senior level. Bradshaw’s second-half double followed before full-back Tommy Linkson marked his debut with a goal, coming off the bench after emerging from the youth set-up.
The only frustration for Record was seeing the opposition score in stoppage time. Victory ended a run of nine games without a win for the Ites. “It's about time,” said Record.
“It’s a good feeling, isn’t it, breaking what’s been a really disappointing run. “We came up with a win and on top of that we played very well on a minefield of a pitch. It was very difficult.
“It wasn’t the fault of the club as such. It costs so much to get a decent surface now. “They’ve done as much as they could with it, but it was very difficult conditions, dry and bobbly.
“I thought we played well and we also played the surface well. We did the right things, made the right decisions, and it turned out to be a good day. “The win lifts the spirits up.
I said to the boys at half-time, it was only 1-0 but I was really confident we were going to get another couple. “All we had to do was stick to the plan we had for the day and it’ll all be about what we do out of possession, really. “As it turned out, we scored another three in the second half.
The only slight kind of irritation with it was the fact that right near the end we conceded a goal. “That was a little bit annoying because we’d done really well out of possession and defended ever so well as well.” Dan Carr came off the bench on Saturday for his first appearance in five months after recovering from injury but Danny Leonard missed out through illness.
Isthmian South East table Jacob Lambert is back training after being out with a knee injury but Record won’t be rushing him back into action. He said: “He’s probably still a good week or so away from being included. “He’s been out so long and I’ll leave it up to him.
” Gillingham’s young forward Jimmy Heasman has returned to the League 2 club after six appearances for the Ites. Sheppey, who sit 10th in the table, are at home to East Grinstead this Saturday..
