Sittingbourne v Hastings United Match Programme 20th April 2019

Match Reports by Tony Rickson
Saturday 6th April 2019
Bostik South East
Sittingbourne 1 Horsham 6, Att 182
Sittingbourne were outplayed and outfought
and ended up on the end of a devastating defeat.
Sittingbourne got an early general warning
from the referee for some mistimed tackles –
which Horsham were very quick to loudly point
out – and Kwasi Amoah was booked after just
12 minutes for a foul.
Goalkeeper Patrick Lee made a fine tip-over
save to keep it goalless while at the other end
Lawrence had an opening after a good buildup
and pass by Henry Woods, but his left-foot
shot went wide of the far post.
Sittingbourne were playing well at the midway
stage of the first half but went backwards once
Horsham took a 31st minute lead when a freekick
beyond the far post was played back in
across goal and Smith volleyed in at the far
post.
What I thought was a terrible decision to penalise
Adebayo when he seemed to stretch his
leg out and win the ball led to Horsham’s second
goal just before half-time, commanding
captain Brivio powering his header in from the
free-kick despite Lee’s half-save.
Horsham got a third early in the second half
when Smith nicked the ball off two Sittingbourne
defenders and broke clear to
smash it past the advancing Lee.
In the last 10 minutes, Horsham went to town
and added three more goals as Sittingbourne
finally succumbed to demoralisation.
Smith got the ball in from a narrow then won a
penalty as Lee fouled him when he was left
clear. The final goal was another Brivio header
from a free-kick, meaning four of Horsham’s
six goals were scored from set pieces.
Somehow, Sittingbourne gathered themselves
together to force an injury time corner, and
when Henry Woods swung it into the near
post, the keeper spilled it with sub Billy Lewins
claiming the final touch as the ball trickled over
the line.
Sittingbourne: Patrick Lee (Yellow card),
Chris Webber, Jack Morrell, Lex Allan, Tommy
Fagg (Yellow card), Kwasi Amoah (Yellow
card) (Khalil McFarlane, 36 min, Yellow card),
Izzy Adebayo (Kane Phillip, 54 min), Tom Lawrence
(Billy Lewins, 59 min), Roman Campbell,
Henry Woods, Timmy Babbington. Subs not
used: Josh Spencer, Johan Caney-Bryan.
Saturday 13 th April 2019
Bostik South East
Whyteleafe 3 Sittingbourne 0, att 103
Sittingbourne were missing the influential Gillingham
loan pair Roman Campbell and Jack
Morrell. Joshua Spencer was fit to return after
six weeks out with a knee injury and he lined
up in an unfamiliar back three with skipper
Chris Webber moved from right-back to a defensive
role in central midfield.
Sittingbourne began well, spreading the ball
about and doing a lot of running and pressing
as Whyteleafe tried to play out from the back
all the time.
There was a little to choose between the sides.
Spencer in an unfamiliar left-back role tried to
play a back pass to keeper Patrick Lee but underhit
it and Hector nipped in to take the loose
ball and score an easy goal.
One became two just seven minutes later
when Whyteleafe cut out the Sittingbourne
back four with a simple one-two, Armstrong
running clear on a neat return pass to score
comfortably.
Sittingbourne manager Chris Lynch immediately
responded by substituting both his disappointed-looking
wide players with like-for-like
replacements.
One of them, Liam Middleton, straightaway
produced the moment of the match, brilliantly
dribbling past three defenders to set up Johan
Caney-Bryan for a chance from which he hit
the bar.
Sittingbourne pressed forward in the second
half and Caney-Bryan, Woods and Lex Allan
all had efforts, Whyteleafe though added a
third from the penalty spot when Spencer
fouled on the edge of the area.
Whyteleafe then had some good chances to
extend their lead.
Caney-Bryan was injured in a heavy tackle and
couldn’t continue and with all three substitutions
already made, Sittingbourne played the
last quarter-of-an-hour with just 10 men – their
fans kept singing, though, to provide the only
atmosphere in the ground.
Sittingbourne: Patrick Lee, Chris Webber,
Lex Allan, Tommy Fagg, Joshua Spencer
(Tom Lawrence, 63 min), Chris Barnard, Kane
Phillip (Abdel Ndew,44 min), Billy Lewins, Johan
Caney-Bryan, Henry Woods, Timmy Babbington
(Liam Middleton, 44 mins). Subs not
used: Khalil McFarlane, Kwasi Amoah.