Sittingbourne v Hastings United Match Programme 20th April 2019

Match Reports by Tony Rickson
Saturday 23 rd March 2019
Bostik South East
Sittingbourne 0 Hythe Town 0, Att 192
Hythe completed the double over Sittingbourne
and retain their interest in the play-offs.
Sittingbourne worked hard and created some
excellent goalscoring chances but at the other
end the defence was carved open just a little
too easily.
It was an even start between what looked twowell
matched teams.
On 26 minutes Roman Campbell’s superb run
was finished by keeper Coxall blocking his
shot. The loose ball ran for Timmie Babbington
and though he beat the fallen keeper his effort
was kicked off the line by covering defender
Dickenson.
Up the other end and Sittingbourne’s defence
was split between the centre-backs and leftback
for ex-Brickie Sal Kisitu to race into the
area at full speed. Out came Lee, down went
Kisitu, and the assistant referee immediately
flagged for a penalty. From where I was, it
looked a good shout but those closer to the action
were adamant it was never a foul. Top
scorer Ansah converted, though only off the
underside of the bar.
Six minutes later and the defence was split
again, this time through the inside-left channel,
and Tom Carlton, whose dad Paul used to play
for Sittingbourne, scored confidently inside the
far post.
Sittingbourne came roaring back and Billy Lewins
looked as though he’d scored but the ball
ran agonisingly the wrong side of the post, and
the keeper made a good save from Chris Barnard,
both chances coming from great play by
the excellent Campbell.
And the Brickies started the second half where
they’d left off with Izzy Adebayo shooting just
over and Barnard also going close, though
when Hythe did get forward Ansah’s shot rebounded
back out off the post. Hythe scored a
third, on the break.
Chances continued for Sittingbourne but nothing
to show for the effort.
Sittingbourne: Patrick Lee, Chris Webber,
Kwasi Amoah, Jack Morrell, Harry Barkaway
(Tom Lawrence, 60 min), Lewis Chambers,
Izzy Adebayo (Liam Middleton, 77 min), Chris
Barnard, Roman Campbell, Billy Lewins (Johan
Caney-Bryan, 45 min), Timmie Babbington.
Subs not used: Rob Lofting, Franklin Phipps.
Saturday 30 th March 2019
Bostik South East
Greenwich Borough 2 Sittingbourne 1, Att
103
Lex Allan returned and played bravely and confidently
as if he’d never been away.
And that was that for the good news, though, to
be fair, Sittingbourne did get better as the
game went on.
Already without Tom Loynes, Tommy Fagg
and Josh Spencer, they were also missing
Kwasi Amoah and Jack Morrell, who has been
a key player in recent weeks.
Sittingbourne got off to a nightmare start with
Roman Campbell, Chris Barnard and Allan all
booked in the first 20 minutes – a couple of
them very harshly. In addition Lewis Chambers
played only two minutes before going off injured,
and to cap it all they also conceded a
poor opening goal.
Greenwich had made the more positive and
intensive start and got their reward when a free
-kick was played to Paul who headed in from a
narrow angle.
The home side continued to have the better of
the play but Sittingbourne gradually got a foothold
in the game forcing a succession of corners.
Sittingbourne were much more positive at winning
the ball back and controlling the game.
In the second half but they conceded a second
on the break when Harry Barkaway risked a
challenge near the edge of the penalty area
and the home player went down. Walter comfortably
converted the penalty for 2-0.
There was almost an immediate comeback
when Woods beat the keeper with a shot that
was going into the far corner only for a slight
deflection off a defender to send it up onto the
bar.
Sittingbourne halved the deficit when sub Izzy
Adebayo worked his way into space on the
right and pulled it back for another sub, Billy
Lewins, to finish with a neat first-time Effort.
Sittingbourne: Patrick Lee, Chris Webber,
Rob Lofting (Billy Lewins, 45 min), Lex Allan
(Yellow card), Harry Barkaway, Lewis Chambers
(Johan Caney-Bryan, 4 min), Kane Phillip
(Izzy Adebayo, 60 min), Chris Barnard
(Yellow card), Roman Campbell (Yellow card),
Henry Woods, Timmy Babbington.