Sevenoaks Town 1-1 Sittingbourne - Sittingbourne look like a team that have the traits that are destined to do something this year, says Sevenoaks Town manager Marcel Nimani

Sevenoaks Town 1 – 1 Sittingbourne
Location	Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5BX
Kickoff	16/10/2024 19:30

SEVENOAKS TOWN 1-1  SITTINGBOURNE
Isthmian League South East Division
Wednesday 16 October 2024
Stephen McCartney reports from Greatness Park

SITTINGBOURNE manager Ryan Maxwell says he is not feeling satisfied with a position in the top five in the Isthmian League South East Division table after coming away from Sevenoaks Town with a point.

The Brickies’ missed the chance of climbing into third-place in the eighth-tier division had they won at Greatness Park, as Ernie Batten’s Sheppey United hold that position after coming away from Merstham with a 1-1 draw last night.

Sittingbourne centre-half Liam Smith drilled in his fifth goal of the season to give his side an early lead, before Sevenoaks Town winger Jefferson Aibangbee notched his eighth-goal of the season to restore parity on the stroke of half-time.

Sevenoaks Town were without their eight-goal leading goalscorer Warren Mfula, while Aibangbee suffered a bang to his lower back and was withdrawn in the second half.

Sittingbourne goalkeeper Dion-Curtis Henry was suffering from a dead leg in their 2-2 draw at league leaders Beckenham Town at the weekend and was rested, as Harley Earle was handed his first start since losing 6-1 at Deal Town in the Kent Senior Cup on 24 September, while 10-goal striker Mitchell May didn’t start tonight’s game due to an ankle injury.

Sittingbourne manager Maxwell said: “I think we should’ve won the game – but we didn’t.  We conceded a goal at a very crucial time and we just couldn’t get the winner.

“But I can’t fault the performance. I was very pleased with the performance away from home. It looked like we were at home, we were so dominant at times.  They had next to nothing second half.  Very disappointed that we didn’t get what we deserved but got to give them credit too, they rode their period of pressure but we should’ve won the game.  We didn’t because we conceded at the worst time, a goal just before half-time.

“I feel for you guys, the supporters because I’m keeping warm by shouting when I’m on the line. It was a really wet Wednesday night wasn’t it?  The football was great so I hope they were entertained by that but it was a really wet night.”

Sevenoaks Town manager Marcel Nimani added: “It was a really interesting game wasn’t it?  I say the biggest compliment that I’ll give them is that they’re so good in the way that they play, they even turned us playing to like them so obviously they did stop us playing.  I would’ve liked to have played a little bit more football than we did tonight.

“I felt in the first half I would argue we were the better team and second half I would say they pinned us in quite a lot for a significant amount of times, so I’ll say second half they were the better team. It’s a fair result in my view.

“Warren Mfula unfortunately wasn’t available tonight. I think we missed him. It was a bit obvious that we missed him but that’s not to say James Jeffrey didn’t do a great job up there.  We missed Warren tonight. I think he gives us a bit more attacking threat, different to James and we probably could’ve done with Warren’s attributes more tonight but credit to James. I felt that he put in a good shift as a striker for us.

“Jefferson’s Jefferson. I’ve known Jefferson long enough, he’s always a difference and I felt in the first half he was very good.  In terms of injury, he suffers with his lower back and he got a nudge in the back, so just to be safe, we took him off.”

Sittingbourne started the game on the front foot, as rain lashed down onto the artificial pitch, as they created their first opening after only 72 seconds.

Holding midfielder Richard Hamill swung in the second of his nine corners towards the near post which was met by Smith, who steered his header past the near-post.

Sevenoaks Town should have done better following a three-man move following a set-piece with seven minutes and 33 seconds on the clock.

Right-back Kevin Diomande threw the ball short to Aibangbee, who laid the ball off to Ayomide Majekodunmi, who cut onto his left-foot before dragging his shot across Earle and past the far post from 25-yards.

“I think a little bit more quality and composure there from Ayo, which has been the story of our season so far, a bit of composure in the oppositions box, that we could’ve slotted that better,” admitted Nimani.

Sittingbourne took a deserved lead with nine minutes and 54 seconds on the clock.

Sevenoaks Town’s central midfielder Sammie McLeod was penalised by referee Callum Parke for a strong challenge on Sittingbourne winger Funsho Sinah and Hamill whipped in a trademark quality delivery with his left-foot.

The home side failed to clear their lines properly and Smith drilled a first-time right-footed shot through a crowd of players to find the bottom left-hand corner with a clinical strike from 14-yards, leaving goalkeeper Jordan Perrin rooted to the spot.

“We thought we’d get a bit of joy with set-pieces tonight, disappointed we didn’t score another one,” said the Belfast-born, 41-year-old Maxwell.

“But we did say we’ll hopefully get a goal from a set-piece and we did.

“A good finish from Liam, second phase as you say.   Richie Hamill, good delivery as per usual and 1-0.

“Liam gives us leadership, he gives us aerial dominance. He gives us heart, desire, he gives us flexibility because he can play any defensive position. Although he’s only a young man, he’s played many, many games and he gives us experience and he’s been a brilliant signing (from Hythe Town) so far.”

Nimani added: “I was disappointed with the goal because we set a whole team around not giving free-kicks away, so I was actually more disappointed with the fact that we gave the free-kick away.

“It was a silly free-kick but the reason why we gave the free-klick away is because of the opposition were so much more sharper than us at the beginning.  They were just pouncing on everything whilst we weren’t, so we were giving free-kicks away because we were getting there two seconds too late.

“I have to say though, Sittingbourne look like a team that’s destined to do something this season, just by the intensity of their play.”

Sittingbourne right-winger Troy Howard fizzed a low cross into the penalty area and the ball found Sinah at the back post, who took a touch before his deflected shot was pushed towards safety by Perrin, diving to his left.

Maxwell said: “We created opportunities tonight, we just didn’t finish them off.  I think we had a number of opportunities first half to go in more than one-all and I think that was also another reason, we’ve got to get ahead away from home (by) a couple of goals at half-time, if you’ve been on the front foot or had the chances and we’ve had a few moments like that – a chance missed.”

Nimani added: “We spoke about their wingers. Troy likes to go on the outside, being a right-footer.  We defended that well and the battle in the middle, they won it, so they got the flick on to hit the target and Jordan was there.”

Sittingbourne were the better side during the first half and left-back Donvieve Jones rolled the ball out to Howard out on the right, who took a touch before whipping in a cross, which sailed over Perrin’s right shoulder and clipped the top of the crossbar in the 26^th minute.

Maxwell said: “That was fortunate so I can’t class that as an opportunity but that was a standard cross. We’ve hit the bar from that but it wasn’t a shot!”

Nimani added: “I think that was more of a fluke cross or a bad cross more than anything.”

Sevenoaks Town’s right-back Kevin Diomande drew a free-kick out of Sinah close to the by-line down the right-channel and they created a decent chance to grab an equaliser in the 38^th minute.

Attacker Rodney Eruotor floated the resulting free-kick towards a crowd of players, the ball was knocked down and holding midfielder Joshua Wisson’s header was caught by Earle, to his left.

“I was really disappointed with that because it was not a lot different between the chance they scored from.  We should’ve scored it,” admitted Nimani.

“If you look at chance to chance, we’re disappointed because I’m thinking that’s the difference between the two sides and they’re 1-0 up.”

When asked about Sittingbourne’s goalkeeper situation tonight, Maxwell revealed: “I probably made the decision that Harley was going to come back in tonight anyway but then it was made a little bit earlier for me knowing Dion had a little bit of an injury that needed a little bit of a rest.  It’s only a soft tissue, a little bit of a dead leg, so he’ll be fine for Saturday.

“I’m absolutely delighted for Harley. I thought he was absolutely brilliant tonight.”

Sevenoaks Town grabbed an equaliser with their second attempt on target, with 44 minutes and 21 seconds on the clock.

Eruotor fed the ball into Majekodunmi, who split open Sittingbourne’s otherwise resilient centre-halves of Smith and Christoper Arthur to put Aibangbee through on goal and as Earle rushed off his line, the winger poked his right-footed shot past him and rolled the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of an empty goal from 15-yards.

“Jefferson deserved that. I thought he worked hard. He had a lot of class in possession Jefferson. I think he showed a lot of difference in possession so I think he deserved that goal,” said Nimani, who was then asked what his goalscorer brings to the party.

“Well, first of all he gives me leadership in the changing room and then you move on to the pitch. He has the attributes I like in a winger.  When I had him at Whitstable, he was one of our top scorers there and now he’s doing the same thing again now.”

Maxwell added: “I think he’s taken it well. I think we’re a bit too high, there was no pressure on the ball or semi-pressure. We’ve got to narrow off. Another good ball through the middle and it’s a good finish but it was a goal we could’ve prevented.”

Both manager’s were asked whether the equaliser changed their half-time team-talks.

Nimani said: “Yes, I mean even thought we had not equalised, I still wouldn’t have been disappointed because I felt we went toe-to-toe with them and I felt we kept the ball well enough and I felt we created enough chances, certainly no less than they did.

“We then came out with the ambition to win the game. We wanted to win this game of football today.”

Maxwell admitted: “Yes, of course it does, of course it does, yes, of course it does.  At the end of the day, you’re talking about a clean sheet at half-time and you’re talking about conceding at half-time.

“Unfortunately, the boys probably got a little bit of (moaning) from me because of when we conceded and how we conceded.  It wasn’t a fantastic goal but we could’ve stopped it.”

Sevenoaks Town came out of the traps flying at the start of the second half as their leveller on the stroke of half-time gave their players’ more belief.

“Did you (think that)?  Yes, that might be the case. I felt that we just had a bit of a shaky start but we grew into the game well. Obviously a goal always gives everybody a buzz, a boost of energy,” came Nimani’s reply.

However, Sevenoaks right-back Diomande opened the gate as pacey Sittingbourne winger Sinah picked up the ball on the half-way line, charged down the left, cut inside and his right-footed angled drive from 25-yards, was held by Perrin, diving low to his left.

Maxwell said: “It was a good save from the keeper.  Henry’s been brilliant for us, he’s been absolutely brilliant and he’s a livewire. He can go both ways, he’s got (five) goals and he’s been a brilliant performer, very consistent. I actually thought he’d score tonight but it wasn’t his day for us.”

Nimani added: “It was a standard save from Jordan. I felt, if I’m honest with you, they pinned us in quite a lot in the second half but I don’t think Jordan had to make many different outstanding saves, they were just standard saves from the goalkeeper.”

Sevenoaks Town worked a chance in the 55^th minute when the impressive Aigbangee played a short 20-yard inside pass to an unmarked McLeod, who unleashed a right-footed drive past the right-hand post from 30-yards.

“A bit more quality there maybe but it’s a difficult angle,” admitted Nimani.

Sevenoaks left-back Charlie Dickens threw the ball to striker James Jeffrey, close to the by-line within the left-channel before the ball was cut back to Wisson, who whipped in a cross from the left and Arthur’s sliced clearance on the edge of the Sittingbourne penalty area dropped into Earle’s midriff for a comfortable catch.

The first half was played at a very frenetic pace, but the speed of the game died down in the second half, as did the heavy rain.

Nimani said: “We went toe-to-toe with each other. I didn’t think there was a lot of difference between the teams, two different styles but I don’t think there were a lot of differences in terms of, but they do have momentum.

“I do think they’re a team, they look like a team that have the traits that are destined to do something this year.”

Maxwell brought on May in the 73^rd minute and the 21-year-old had a glorious chance to claim the victory inside the final 12 minutes.

Hamill’s free-kick was flicked on by attacking midfielder Jay Beckford and May cut into the penalty area, initially heading towards the corner flag, before cutting past his man and sweeping a left-footed shot past the beaten Perrin (who dived to his left after the ball had gone past him) and just past the base of the near post into the side netting.

It was a big chance for Sittingbourne and Maxwell said: “I would’ve put my house on him to score that. If he was on a bit earlier, he scores but Mitch had an ankle injury today, so I didn’t want to rush him into the team. 

“Mitchell May has got goals oozing out of him. I think if he’s on for longer, he scores.”

Nimani said:  “Our game plan was stop giving free-kicks away, deal with their long balls, deal with the seconds and play football.

“Because they had so many set-pieces and they’re very good at set-pieces, you’re about to concede those chances. The only thing you could argue is perhaps could we have avoided giving so many set-pieces away.”

Earle made a comfortable save to deny Sevenoaks Town when centre-half Jack Bath poked a 10-yard pass into Wisson, who cracked a right-footed drive towards the bottom far corner from 35-yards, which was comfortably held by Earle down onto his knees and gathering the ball into his midriff.

“I think from that angle, if you’re going to shoot, you have got to time the way it bounces in front of a goalkeeper. If it doesn’t bounce then the keeper will always save it but a bounce can potentially change directions,” added the Sevenoaks manager.

Sittingbourne were pressing for the late winner, with Hamill putting in three more late corners, substitute centre-half Jack Steventon hurling two long throws into the box, but Sevenoaks’ centre-halves Bath and Ryan Sawyer held firm.

“Nine corners?  I think that shows you the pressure.  I think Richie’s delivery was brilliant, I don’t think one corner was badly hit. We probably didn’t attack it well enough.  They had a little bit of fortune to them where they’ve cleared it,” said Maxwell.

“We’ve had an opportunity, we’ve hit it over, we’ve hit it wide but usually a number of corners at away games, shows you that you were the team on the front foot.”

Sittingbourne’s holding midfielder substitute Codey Cosgrove fed high left-back Donvieve Jones, who lashed his drive high over the crossbar from 22-yards.

Sevenoaks Town – who came away from Herne Bay with a 5-3 win at the weekend – wasted a glorious chance to snatch the victory on the counter-attack with 49:33 on the clock.

Substitute left-winger Gael Kilbea released fellow sub Daniel Duncanson through the heart of the pitch but a poor touch ensured Earle rushed off his line and smothered at Duncanson’s feet inside the Sittingbourne penalty area.

“Well, that’s the difference unfortunately, that’s the difference.  That was the best chance of the game for both teams.  There was not a better chance,” agonised Nimani.

“All you have to do is square that then Gael would’ve been on an empty goal, so that’s the difference unfortunately.  We created a better chance in the game, we just unfortunately finished one.

“Listen, I respect every team in this league and I do think Sittingbourne are destined to achieve something but I wouldn’t patronise my boys. In any draw, it’s always two points lost.

“I would say probably the fairest result. I think it would’ve been sad one of the teams going home defeated tonight but for us I’m gutted, we should’ve won that game.”

Maxwell added: “Listen, we’re trying to win the League. I’d rather go out there and lose on my shield, like a proper manger.  We were putting bodies forward and you’re sceptical of being caught on the break.  We weren’t caught on it ultimately but Harley smothered it extremely well.”

Sittingbourne wasted another late chance when Jones teed up Cosgrave, who curled a left-footed shot around the diving Perrin and just past the left-hand post (51:52).

Sevenoaks Town, meanwhile, welcome newly-promoted side Erith Town to Greatness Park on Saturday.

The Oaks are in thirteenth-place in the table with 11 points from their nine games.

Beckenham Town are at the summit with 26 points from their 12 games, while the play-off places contain unbeaten Ramsgate (21 points from seven games), Sheppey United (19 points from eight games), Burgess Hill Town (19 points from nine games) and Sittingbourne (17 points from eight).

Adam Woodward’s Dockers are in sixth-place in the table with 17 points from 10 games, followed by Margate (16 points from nine games) and Merstham (16 points from 10 games).

“It’s a tough game. They’re a team that have a bit of stability. They’ve been together for some time,” said Nimani.

“Woody over there has done a brilliant job and he’s in a good place.  That’s just an example to all clubs when they stick and work with a manager you can reap the rewards of it and Erith Town wouldn’t be in the position they are today had they not followed that strategy, so credit to Erith Town and we’ll done to Woody.

“You could argue we probably should be a little bit hight than that points wise.  In terms of a group ambition, we want to be a little bit higher. In terms of club’s ambitions, we are within our objectives.”

Nimani was pressed what those objectives were – but he was giving nothing away!

“We’re looking to bring one more player in, which were hoping to reveal next week. It’s an exciting player but until then we’re fine as we are.”

Former Sittingbourne manager Nick Davis brings his Hythe Town side to Woodstock Park on Saturday, which stages an Isthmian League game for the first time since Phoenix Sports were beaten there 4-0 on Tuesday 10 September.

The Cannons are in the bottom four with two wins from their 10 games and are joined in the relegation zone by Ashford United (five points from six games), Lancing (four points from eight games) and Phoenix Sports with one point  from nine.

“I think my thoughts are, we approach it like we approach every game. We give them respect that they deserve.  My predecessor is coming to Sittingbourne and I’m sure he’ll want to come and win the game,” added Maxwell.

“We’ll respect the opposition but we’re at home for the first time (since September) and there’s no spice amongst me (coming up against a former Sittingbourne manager).

“We’ve had one defeat away to Ramsgate and I think we’re not where we should be in terms of our performances, like tonight, we should’ve won but we’ve had some tough, tough fixtures.  Some teams haven’t played the fixtures we’ve had.

“We’re still in The FA Trophy (playing away to Isthmian League Premier Division side Dover Athletic on 26 October) but I’m reasonably happy but I’m never satisfied because we’re not top, unbeaten and that’s where I want to be.”

When asked about his aspirations of winning the title, promotion or the play-offs, Maxwell replied: “Of course, that’s why I’m here. That’s why the chairman employed me. That’s what I’m here for, that’s why my staff are here for. That’s why I signed the players, 100%.”

Sevenoaks Town: Jordan Perrin, Kevin Diomande, Charlie Dickens, Joshua Wisson, Jack Bath, Ryan Sawyer, Jefferson Aibangbee (Gael Kilbea 64), Sammie McLeod (Ollie Gray 87), James Jeffrey (Daniel Duncanson 80), Ayomide Majekodunmi Rodney Eruotor (Ahmed Futa 80).
Sub: Liam Northwood

Goal: Jefferson Aibangbee 45

Booked: Jefferson Aibangbee 54, Kevin Diomande 83, Ayomide Majekodunmi 85

Sittingbourne: Harley Earle, Henry Lukombo (Jack Steventon 84), Donvieve Jones, Richard Hamill, Liam Smith, Christopher Arthur, Funsho Sinah (Mitchell May 73), Ayman El-Mogharbel (Codey Cosgrave 64), Ryan Kingsford, Jay Beckford, Troy Howard (Joseph Boache 64).
Sub: Ambrose Gnahore

Goal: Liam Smith 10

Booked: Liam Smith 63, Donvieve Jones 90

Attendance: 146
Referee: Mr Callum Parke
Assistants: Mr Jake Symes & Mr Michael Hill
Referee Coach: Mr Darren Blunden