Match Reports by Tony Rickson Saturday, 21st September 2019 BetVictor Isthmian League South East Division Sittingbourne (0) 0 Guernsey (0) 1 (Skillen 90) Attendance: 139 Oh no, not again. That’s three times in the last four games that Sittingbourne have conceded crucial late goals. It cost them a win against East Grinstead, a hardearned point at Ashford on Tuesday night when the home team won it in the 92nd minute, and now a draw against Guernsey in a match they should have won easily. All this means that since last March, Sittingbourne have won just once in 15 league games. It’s a long time since home fans saw the team get three points, but despite the hard dry pitch, despite the sun beating down, despite Guernsey enjoying a good start to their season, despite this being a very young Sittingbourne side, this was the day to do it. Sittingbourne had chances galore, but good as their approach work was at times, their finishing just never matched it. And when they got anxious about it in the second half, they took the wrong option too many times, players shooting when a pass was on to a better-placed colleague. It’s easy to criticise from the sidelines, and of course all the players were doing their best, but when you’ve got four breaking against two defenders, the best way to get through is to pass rather than hold onto the ball too long and dribble into trouble. Guernsey, who only just escaped relegation at the end of last season, came into the match on an excellent run of just one defeat in six games played. And that’s despite long days and plenty of airport-waiting, playing all of them here on the mainland as their home ground is having work done on it. Sittingbourne were without the injured Lewis Chambers, joining a long list of players out injured or unavailable, and left out Emmanuel N’Daw and Kane Phillip from the team that lost at Ashford. In came Festus Lori, Liam Middleton and Josh Oliver, who showed a lot of potential and dazzling footwork in his full league debut. Guernsey have very definite patterns of play, passing the ball round at the back before launching long balls forward, but their three-man back line always looked as if it could be caught out by quick attacks. Sittingbourne made a promisingly effective start, and after 12 minutes, Johan Caney-Bryan thrashed a shot against the inside of the post from Lex Allan’s headed pass. Caney-Bryan, who worked hard throughout and held the ball up well, got clear down the middle but shot wide and Oliver also missed the target from a good position. Into the second half and Caney-Bryan couldn’t quite stretch enough to get in an accurate header from Tom Fagg’s cross as Sittingbourne again took control of the game. Chances followed, in fact they flowed, but the Guernsey keeper rushed out to make good saves from Caney-Bryan and sub Kane Phillip, Fagg had two shots that were saved comfortably, and Oliver couldn’t get on target with opportunities he created for himself. Guernsey seemed content to style it out, breaking only very occasionally, though when they did Tom Benham was forced to make a couple of good saves. It looked as if Sittingbourne were going to miss out on three points that seemed to have been there for the taking, but the game had a bitter twist in its tail. Guernsey always come to play football but they were rather too quick to go down towards the end, and I thought the free-kick that led to their 90th minute goal was a poor decision. But it was right out wide near the halfway line and should have been defended. The ball got into the six-yard area, though, and was scuffed back for sub Skillen to shoot into the far corner and send the away team off celebrating. Harsh on Sittingbourne but it’s a tough old game, football, and the team who dominates doesn’t always win matches. They now have a fortnight’s break from league action to put this defeat behind them and bounce back for the rest of the season –there’s a long way to go yet. Sittingbourne: Tom Benham, Ben Fitchett (Lewis West, 72 min), Jason Fregene, Tom Fagg, Lex Allan, Cory Walters-Wright, Liam Middleton, Chris Barnard (Yellow card), Johan Caney-Bryan (Emmanuel N’Daw, 66 min), Joshua Oliver, Festus Lori (Kane Phillip, 52 min). Sub not used: Declan Pearse. Guernsey: Callum Stanton, Frank Tobin, Jamie Dodd (Yellow card), Thomas Dodds (Charlton Gauvain, 32 min), Thomas Strawbridge, Harry Tobin, Liam Mahon (Sebastian Skillen, 71 min), Kieran Mahon, Will Fazakerley, Ross Allen, Carlos Canha (Alex Scott, 67 min). Subs not used: Thomas De La Mere, Keanu Marsh. Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden; Assistants: Mr Howard Collins, Mr Billy Woods.
14 SEPTEMBER 2019 - 18 JANUARY 2020 MAIDSTONE MUSEUM An exciting new football exhibition coming to Maidstone. Log on to museum.maidstone.gov.uk to find out more. COME ALONG - IT’S FREE! PLUS Free exhibition Activity Books for youngsters!
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