Sittingbourne 0-1 Merstham - I'm always concerned about our home record, admits Brady

In the final analysis, the Brickies could well be left to rue their home form at Bourne Park this season, which has yielded just 21 points and a series of frustrating performances on home soil.

Deprived of their first choice forward line, through long-term injury, Gary Abbott’s side received a further set-back this afternoon when influential midfielder Rio Alderton was forced to withdrawal due to a family emergency.

And in truth, Abbott’s side missed the trio badly.

Speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, assistant player-manager and top scorer Richard Brady conceded that, “If you take me, Tom Bradbrook and Rio out of our side, that’s over thirty goals and a midfielder containers role gone.

“We worked hard tonight, but just couldn’t score. It’s difficult to get upset knowing that the performance that we put in with three key players out you sensed that we would struggle and so it proved.

“We weren’t helped again tonight as Joe Dowley didn’t come out for the second half because he’s got a huge bump on the side of his head and we’re going to tell him to go to hospital now to get it checked.”

Joking, Brady, who himself spent six hours at the Medway Maritime Hospital a fortnight ago, after sustaining a horrific head injury against Leatherhead, “We’re thinking of getting a season ticket at the place.”

It really was a frustrating night for the Brickies, and in particular Bradley Spice.

In a drab first half, the only two half chances fell to Spice, but both times his shot lacked confidence and conviction and easily saved by keeper Ian Chatfield.

After the break the game improved slightly and for a ten minute spell, Sittingbourne looked that they could lay their desperate home form to rest.

Ellie Kayembe was denied by a brave block from Chatfield on 47 minutes and sixty seconds later the Sittingbourne number nine did well to control a long ball out of defence on the edge of the Merstham box and was unfortunate to see his shot on the turn fly just too high.

On 51 minutes, again the Merstham goal seemed to have a charmed life as first Colin Richmond and then Mark De Bolla had shots blocked before Spice saw an effort kicked away by keeper Chatfield.

Referee Lee Venamore then became centre of attention as he cautioned Merstham’s Michael Morgan for a clash with Brickies substitute Mark Green.

Morgan was then very fortunate not to be carded again as he first continued the back chat to the official and then exchanged “pleasantries” with a member of the crowd, which was clearly heard by the Maidstone official, who immediately called Merstham skipper Craig Vernon for a discussion in which he clearly intimated that Morgan was on very thin ice indeed.

Ironically, Morgan was substituted moments later and was his replacement who was to prove the match winner.

Gavin Gordon had been on the field for four minutes when he got on the end of a flick by Kwabana Agwei and beat Brickies goalkeeper Matt Reed low to his right from twenty yards.

Although Sittingbourne huffed and puffed for the remaining twenty minutes and forced a series of corners, the Merstham goal was left very much in tact.

Brady admitted afterwards that he had always been concerned about this evening’s game, “I’m always concerned about home games, you just have to look at our record.

“It’s been so frustrating watching our last four games since I got injured, we’ve really struggled up front and I’m convinced if Tom and I had played in them, we would be in the play-off places.

“At this level you need a goalscorer and we’ve lost both ours in a week.”

When asked if he would make a playing comeback at Imber Court this weekend, Brady shrugged and said, “I’m not supposed to, but I would love to, given our position. It’s more that I may have too!”

And to be fair to Brady, his side really do need his goals now as with five games left the Brickies must somehow find an extra five points from somewhere if they are to make the post season.

Sittingbourne: Matt Reed, Ryan Andrews, Joe Dowley (Mark Green 45), Matt Bourne, Billy Manners, Nick Reeves, Joe Horlock, Mark De Bolla (Hicham Akhazzan 76), Ellie Kayembe, Bradley Spice (Andre Marques 88), Colin Richmond.
Subs: Joe Plant, Gary Abbott.

Booked: Ellie Kayembe 78, Joe Horlock 90

Merstham: Ian Chatfield, James Hancock, Dean Gunnere, Dan Dean, Craig Vernon, Chris Read, Michael Morgan (Gavin Gordon 66), Mark Simmonds, Kwabana Agwei (Kevin Locke 89), Ross White, Terry Fennessy (Jack Holmes 82).

Goal: Gavin Gordon 70

Booked: Craig Vernon 53, Michael Morgan 58, Terry Fennessy 76

Attendance: 142
Referee: Mr Lee Venamore (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Rob Baker (Maidstone) & Mr Graeme Ions (Maidstone)