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Match Reports by Tony Rickson
Saturday 15th October 2016
Ryman League Div 1 South
Molesey 1 Sittingbourne 1 Att 93
This was a reassuring performance by Sittingbourne
as they battled and scrapped for a
point that was the very least they deserved.
Reassuring because they were missing key
players, but but also because they were away
to a team who have a very strong home record,
and in addition they haven’t had very good results
lately.
Another defeat and they would have been slipping
further down the table after starting the
season so brightly.
But a makeshift team dug deep and proved
there’s plenty of optimism for the season still to
come, especially if they play as well and as determinedly
as this.
Sittingbourne were without their two main stalwarts
who hadn’t previously missed a game this
season. Captain and key defender Jono Richardson
was unavailable through work commitments,
and top scorer Miles Cornwell has gone
up a division to Folkestone – and he scored for
them on his debut! Also missing was strong
midfielder Jack Steventon, suspended for getting
sent off the previous Saturday in the FA
Trophy.
Back came Dan Tanner and fit-again Steven
Ita, with Tom Brunt – the stand-in captain –
switched to midfield to allow Sam Welch to return
at right-back.
Sittingbourne started well in the Surrey sunshine
and both central defenders, Danny Rumbol
and Tanner, headed wide from early chances.
They thought they’d taken the lead through
Hicham Akhazzan after 11 minutes but he was
flagged offside – even though fans who were
nearer the decision than I was reckoned that
was the wrong call.
With Sittingbourne pressing forward, Molesey
caught them on the break on 18 minutes and a
good build-up down the left ended with Samuels
shooting home from the edge of the area.
Sittingbourne fought back well with Ita looking
something like back to his exciting best of last
season, Stefan Wright bursting forward from
midfield, and Tom Carlse and Conrad Lee combining
well to attack down the left.
Jordan Gallacher shot over after being forced
wide and then brought out a brilliant save from
the keeper as he latched on to Ita’s pass.
At the other end Molesey put together a move
that was a carbon copy of their goal but Simon
Overland saved well.
A decent enough first half was followed by an
exciting, sometimes dramatic and often controversial
second half, with Sittingbourne mainly
on top and driving forward but Molesey dangerous
in counter-attacks.
The Brickies equalised 12 minutes into the half
when Carlse drove the ball in from the left,
Akhazzan snatched at his shot and the ball was
blocked to Gallacher who smashed it gleefully
home from close range.
Molesey protested long and hard for offside, but
a good moan wasn’t entirely out of character for
them all afternoon.
At one end Welch made a brilliant saving tackle
when a Molesey forward raced clear but mainly
it was Sittingbourne pushing on.
They were mysteriously refused a penalty when
sub Ricky Gundry was blatantly pushed over
from behind, and as temperatures rose they
were drawn into a couple of minor scuffles with
the referee struggling to maintain his control.
Lee was just inches away from clinching a glorious
winner, racing from his own area all the
way down the pitch only to take a slightly too
heavy touch as he closed in on goal.
In the final few minutes it was exhilaratingly all
Sittingbourne, with Gundry and Carlse having
fierce shots blocked by a packed defence, and
then sub Josh Wisson timing his header beautifully
from 10 yards only to see the home keeper
make an excellent tip-over in response.
Honours even and for Sittingbourne a wellearned
point after defeats in their last couple of
away league games.
Sittingbourne: Simon Overland, Sam Welch,
Conrad Lee, Danny Rumbol, Dan Tanner, Tom
Brunt, Hicham Akhazzan (Ricky Gundry, 66
min), Stefan Wright, Jordan Gallacher, Steven
Ita (Josh Wisson, 77 min), Tom Carlse.