Ashford Town 0-1 Sittingbourne - We enjoy playing away from home, says Brady

Lovell, made one change from the side that earned a battling 0-0 draw at Cray Wanderers on Saturday, with goalkeeper Jamie Riley returning to the starting XI, replacing Josh Willis.

After conceding 8 goals in 2 games, before the clean sheet at Hayes Lane, Lovell continued with the 4-5-1 formation that saw the Nuts and Bolts keep only their 4th clean sheet of the season, with Daniel Brathwaite continuing in a holding midfield role.

Sittingbourne boss, Gary Abbott, also made one change, following the disappointing second half at Bourne Park against Dulwich Hamlet that saw the Brickies lose a two-goal lead, eventually going down 3-2.

Ian Varley stepped up from the bench to replace Ben Payne, with Ryan Andrews taking his place among the substitutes. Bradbrook, who went off injured on Saturday was fit to take his place, as was Dave Milton, his second half replacement, who was also later taken off with a knock.

After a scrappy opening 10 minutes, where neither side could form a meaningful attack, Sittingbourne suddenly had two chances as the strike-force of Bradbrook and Richard Brady combined to good effect.

From a Joe Dowley free-kick on halfway, Bradbrook‘s flicked header found his partner free on the left edge of the 6-yeard box and Riley was relieved to see Brady‘s left-foot volley skim the top of the bar from an acute angle.

Brady then returned the compliment, having been released by Hicham Akhazzan on the left, cutting a ball back to Bradbrook, but a last-ditch tackle from Danny Lye saw the ball bounce harmlessly in to Riley‘s arms.

This flurry of activity woke up the Nuts and Bolts supporters in the 479 crowd (the highest of the season at Homelands) and they were nearly rewarded from Riley‘s long clearance. The ball dropped to Mitchell Sherwood on the edge of the Brickies box and, after a neat turn round Ian Varley, the former Sittingbourne winger saw his right-foot shot rebound off the inside of the right hand post back to Matt Reed.

Sherwood almost turned provider halfway through the first period, as a pinpoint cross from the right found Claude Seanla, whose powerful header flashed past the right hand post.

Despite Lovell changing the Ashford formation to try to get more support up to Seanla, it was the visitors who dominated the end of the first half through Bradbrook and Brady.

Another flick header from Bradbrook sent Akhazzan away and the winger curled a right-foot shot from 30 yards past the upright, with Riley stationary.

Minutes later, Brady released Bradbrook down the left and, having skipped past Lye‘s sliding tackle, rolled the ball across the face of the goal. From 12 yards, the lunging Colin Richmond somehow managed to put the ball over the bar with the majority of the goal at his mercy.

Sittingbourne‘s dominance was rewarded on 42 minutes when Ashford failed to clear a corner and despite desperate defending the ball was left bobbling round the box. As the ball broke loose from the pack of players, Bradbrook slotted home past Riley and the two defenders on the line.

Lovell‘s half-time changes, bringing on former Brickies forwards Bradley Spice and Andy Doerr for Seanla and Robbie Ryan, almost paid dividends immediately.

Spice found himself free in the box; his first shot was well saved by the legs of Reed, but as the ball ran loose, his follow-up was steered over the bar while off-balance.

Ashford‘s uncertainty from corners was almost cruelly exposed twice in quick succession moments later, as Jimmy Elford was forced to block a shot on the line from Brady, then Lye (on his 50th club appearance for the Nuts & Bolts) heading behind as Bradbrook threatened.

As time started to run out, both Ashford forwards had chances to equalise. Ryan Briggs provided a left-wing cross on 69 minutes that the flying Spice couldn‘t quite reach and five minutes later, a deep ball from Elford was headed goalwards by Doerr, only for Reed to claim the catch at the angle of post and bar.

With Sean Ray added to the forward line for the last 10 minutes, the Brickies defence, ably marshalled by Varley and Haverson, held firm.

A reflective Steve Lovell told BBC Radio Kent afterwards: “We didn‘t deserve anything tonight. I thought the better team won and they were first class. All credit to them. We didn‘t perform tonight. It‘s probably the worst we‘ve played all season."

Sittingbourne assistant manager, Brady, was full of praise for his strike partner, Tom Bradbrook, saying: “It works with a little bloke and a big bloke. Tom‘s been brought in, a young player, one willing to learn. We‘ve done a lot of work on the training ground and we missed him when he was out."

When asked about the incredible 100% away record against the 1 point from 15 possible at Bourne Park, Brady, also speaking to BBC Radio Kent, admitted: “I think the pitch has a lot to do with it. It‘s not the best pitch in the world. We like playing on nice pitches, we want to get the ball down and play it around.

“When we played Chertsey in the FA Cup, they came down and said how do you play on that. Even Walks (Maidstone United joint-manager Alan Walker) said it suits teams who get it in there.”

Ashford Town: Jamie Riley, Jimmy Elford (Ian Batten 84), Robbie Ryan (Bradley Spice 45), Danny Lye, Sean Ray, Ryan Briggs, Tony Browne, Charlie Glyde, Claude Seanla (Andy Doerr 45), Daniel Brathwaite, Mitchell Sherwood.
Subs: Lee Hockey, Darren Ibrahim

Sittingbourne: Matt Reed, Nick Reeves, Joe Dowley, Jack Haverson, Ian Varley, Rio Alderton, Colin Richmond, Bryan Glover, Tom Brad brook (Elli Keyembe 81), Richard Brady, Hickham Akhazzan (Dave Milton 45).
Subs: Billy Manners, Ryan Andrews, Joe Horlock.

Goal: Tom Bradbrook 42

Attendance: 479
Referee: Mr Paul Harris (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Graham Harris & Mr Bob Ayling