Dulwich Hamlet 0-2 Sittingbourne - No-one will want to play us in play-off's, says Abbott

Tonight’s comfortable 2-0 win at Dulwich Hamlet moved the Bourne Park outfit to within two points of fifth-placed side Metropolitan Police with just seven games to play.

Midfielder Rio Alderton opened his account for the season to give Sittingbourne a 19^th minute lead, before Mark De Bolla added a penalty just five minutes before half-time.

“I thought we came here, we started right,” Abbott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards. “If you start right it’s a big help. I just thought everyone was at it.

“The comparison from Saturday (a goal-less draw at Walton Casuals) and tonight is there for everyone to see.

“We’ve gone off a little bit the last two or three games, I think we’ve dropped four points out of the last two games, which we should have won, but we came here tonight, it had to be three points tonight because that could turn our season now.”

Sittingbourne called Dulwich Hamlet goalkeeper Jamie Lunan into a fine low save after fourteen minutes when midfielder De Bolla curled a right-footed free-kick from 25-yards around the five-man wall, but the goalkeeper dived low to his left to turn the ball away.

But the Kent side broke the deadlock just five minutes later, courtesy of a goal worked on the training ground.

Colin Richmond delivered a corner from the left, which was met on the back header by Nick Reeves and the near post and Alderton was on hand to power his header past Lunan from inside the six-yard box.

De Bolla should have doubled Sittingbourne’s lead just after the half-hour mark, driving wide from 20-yards after new strike partnership Ellie Kayembe knocked down Hicham Akhazzan’s cross.

Abbott has been forced to field Kayembe and Akhazzan up front, thanks to a knee injury sustained by Tom Bradbrook at the weekend, and Richard Brady’s freak advertising board injury against Leatherhead eight days ago.

With Stuart Myall pulling the strings in Dulwich’s midfield, the south Londoners’ only real first half chance came after 36 minutes.

Myall squared the ball to John-Paul Collier and he spread the ball out wide to Junior Kaffo, whose driven cross from the right was met by a glancing header from the unmarked Cedric Ngaham, but his effort bounced harmlessly past the far post.

But Sittingbourne put the result beyond doubt, adding a vital second five minutes before half-time.

The assistant referee on the far side of the pitch put his flag across his chest to signal for a penalty after Ryan Myers challenged Kayembe inside the penalty area.

De Bolla stepped up to smash the resulting right-footed penalty to Lunan’s left as the goalkeeper dived the wrong way.

Dulwich Hamlet, marooned in mid-table, were never going to trouble the solid Nick Reeves and Matt Bourne at the heart of the Sittingbourne back four.

But they did create two decent chances after the break, as Sittingbourne were content to build a brick wall in front of Matt Reed in goal.

Dulwich substitute Ahoua Steven, who was wearing yellow boots, swept a left-footed curling drive past the far post from 25-yards, but the Londoners’ best chance of the entire game came with thirteen minutes remaining.

Scott Simpson was released in behind the Sittingbourne defence, but Reed made a fine diving low save to his left to prevent the drive finding the bottom far corner.

Abbott added, “I think that was their only chance of the whole game. I think that just shows you how good we were.

“We thoroughly deserved it; could have been more goals; but another clean sheet and we win 2-0 - brilliant.

“They’ve smashed it down our throats to Nick Reeves and Matt Bourne, who are the best headers (of the ball) probably in the league, defensive wise. All day, they’ll have that all day, and I thought Reeves’ was outstanding tonight.”

Sittingbourne are at home for their next two games, against second-from-bottom side Burgess Hill Town on Saturday and then against ninth-placed surprise package Merstham two days later - before the big showdown at Metropolitan Police.

Although his side have picked up 12 wins and five draws from their 18 games on their travels, Abbott has told his side to improve their home form, having picked up five wins and five draws from 17 games at Bourne Park.

He said: “We’ve got to go out there on Saturday, well, for the next seven games, we’ve got to do what we done tonight and I’ve got no doubt in my mind, we’ll get into the play-off’s.

“On our day, in the play-off’s, I don’t think they’ll be many sides that want to play us.”

Despite a crowd of just 194 at Champion Hill tonight, the travelling Sittingbourne fans made a racket throughout this comfortable victory, and Abbott thanked them for their backing.

“They were brilliant tonight, every game, Fleet away, here, they didn’t stop signing," he said.

“Alright, they’re might be only 20 of them, but they kept us going through the game as well and obviously I’d like to thank the fans for that as well.”

But he added, “It would be nice if we could get a few more supporters at home. Maidstone are getting 450’s and even if we can get half of that, it’ll be brilliant for us.”

Dulwich Hamlet: Jamie Lunan, Peter Martin, Ricky Dobson, Junior Kaffo, Shayne Nangodza, Ryan Myers, Daryl Plummer (Daniel Francis 84), Cedric Ngaham, John-Paul Collier (Ahoua Steven 45), Scott Simpson (Tom Pratt 90).
Subs: Mohamed Coly, Sheikh Ceesay.

Booked: Cedric Ngaham 61

Sittingbourne: Matt Reed, Ryan Andrews, Joe Dowley, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Rio Alderton, Joe Hurlock (Billy Manners 79), Mark De Bolla (Mark Green 54), Ellie Kayembe (Bradley Spice 71), Hicham Akhazzan, Colin Richmond.

Goals: Rio Alderton 19, Mark De Bolla 40 (pen)

Booked: Colin Richmond 76

Attendance: 194
Referee: Mr John O’Brien (Wimbledon Park, London, SW18)
Assistants: Mr Dele Sotimirin (London SW9) & Mr Errol Walker (Colliers Wood, London SW19)