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Match Reports by Tony Rickson
19th November 2016
Ryman League Div 1 South
Sittingbourne 4 Hythe Town 0 Att 143
If Sittingbourne’s players were getting ratings out of 10 for this
performance, then every one of them would have got at least
an 8.
This stunning win was a great reward for teamwork, with each
player not only doing their job, but tackling bravely, running
hard and – simply – playing for each other.
Hythe came back strongly but for all the probing
of Alfie May, who looks to be on the brink of a deserved career
in League football, they couldn’t find a way through
Sittingbourne’s determined defence.
And the Brickies made it 2-0 just before half-time when Welch,
enjoying himself against his old club, was fouled just outside
the area. Lee lined up the free-kick and hit it perfectly over the
wall and inside the near post for a terrific first goal of the season.
The normal reliable suspects like Jono Richardson and Simon
Overland put in their usual stints, but it was others like the
outstanding Sam Welch, Conrad Lee and Jordan Gallacher who
all put in possibly their best performances of the season.
Well done to all the Sittingbourne players, and well done to
them for serenading their loyal singing supporters at the end.
Any win over a competent and successful team like Hythe has
to be enjoyed, but this one even more so as it was so emphatic
– and some revenge for that 5-0 FA Cup replay hiding
Hythe were so happy to give them less than three months ago.
Victory leaves Sittingbourne just four points off a play-off place
but the trick is to cash in on it. When they beat Ramsgate by
the same score earlier this season, and midway through last
season as well, they followed it by losing the next few games.
The same attitude and commitment showed here needs to be
maintained, for this was the standard Sittingbourne have now
set themselves for the rest of the season.
They made two changes from the team that won at Godalming
in the previous game, Tom Brunt and the injured Dan Parkinson
dropping out and new signing Anthony O’Connor and Gallacher
coming in.
But there were positional changes as well, with Lee moving
into the central midfield role vacated by Stefan Wright’s suspension
and making an excellent contribution.
Sittingbourne started positively against a Hythe team who
have done very well against them in recent years, and took the
lead on 18 minutes with a terrific goal, built up at a high tempo.
Steven Ita played in Gallacher and he cut his cross back for
ex-Folkestone striker O’Connor to finish calmly to make it a
debut to remember.
Hythe made a double substitution at half-time, looking determined
to get something back from the game in pursuit of a
play-off place, but it was Sittingbourne who scored again at
the start of the second half.
Welch cut in from the right, dummied his marker and picked
out Ricky Gundry in the box to control and score from 12 yards
out.
Overland made a couple of good saves but no way were-
Sittingbourne in a mood to let a three-goal lead slip, and
Hythe’s day was summed up when May hit a shot that flew
straight out of the ground.
And Sittingbourne rounded off a performance to remember
with a fourth goal, teenager Jake Embery scoring for the second
successive Saturday, this time just four minutes after coming
on. Fellow young sub Josh Wisson set him up with a terrific
through pass and Embery, who looks like he’s loving his football
at the moment, simply crashed his left-foot drive through
the keeper.
What a glorious finish to the game and another scalp of a top
team for Sittingbourne to follow wins over Greenwich Borough
and Corinthian Casuals. Happy days.
Sittingbourne: Simon Overland, Sam Welch, Tom Carlse (Tom
Brunt, 70 min), Danny Rumbol, Jono Richardson, Joe Loft,
Ricky Gundry, Conrad Lee, Steven Ita (Josh Wisson, 66 min),
Anthony O’Connor (Jake Embery, 79 min), Jordan Gallacher.
Subs not used: Hicham Akhazzan, Dan Tanner.
EQUALITY -
“The Ryman Football League strongly support recent FA statement that there should be a
zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly any
form of discriminatory abuse whether it be based on race or ethnicity, sexual orientation,
gender, faith, age, ability or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association
for action by that Association.” (Useful numbers:-The FA 0800 085 0508 / Kick it
Out 020 7253 0162)