Sittingbourne 0A0 Chipstead - Pair turn down move away from Bourne Park

Thursday 18th February 2010

SITTINGBOURNE A-A CHIPSTEAD
(Match abandoned after 16 minutes - waterlogged pitch)
Ryman League Division One South
Thursday 18th February 2010
Mike Green reports from Bourne Park

Thursday night football at Bourne Park was literally washed out tonight as a heavy downpour of rain, which started about twenty minutes before kick-off put paid to Sittingbourne’s hopes for tonight at least of closing in on the Ryman League Division One South play-off places.

With surface water all over the pitch, particularly through the middle, both sides attempted to play football through the deluge and indeed Hicham Akhazzan should have put the Brickies one up after only three minutes - Sittingbourne’s top scorer raced free but his clipped shot not only beat keeper James Westall but also the crossbar.

In the end, the ball stuck in one puddle too many for referee Mr Holderness and the Essex official quite rightly called a halt to proceedings after only sixteen minutes.

Sittingbourne boss Gary Abbott, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, was quietly relieved that the game had been halted.

He siad: “After playing on a heavy pitch tonight and with Folkestone coming here on Saturday, I was a little bit worried that two heavy pitches in three days would take its toll.

“That said, the way we started” Abbott continued, “We could have easily had been two or three up by the time he called it.”

During the interview, Abbott also revealed that Sittingbourne have received seven-day approaches for both Colin Richmond and Jimmy Bottle.

The approach for former Ashford Town winger Bottle has come from Croydon Athletic, and Aveley want former Dartford midfielder Richmond, although Abbott also confirmed that both players have verbally told him that they want to stay at Bourne Park at least until the end of the season - although Bottle is shortly to have talks with the Surrey side.

Sittingbourne: Deren Ibrahim, Joe Horlock, Joe Dowley, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Karl Dent, Hicham Akhazzan, Colin Richmond, Tom Bradbrook, Elie Kayembe, Jimmy Bottle.

Subs: Billy Manners, Ryan Golding, Barney Abbott, Joshua Davidson, Richard Brady.

Chipstead: James Wastell, Russell Bedford, Jason Thompson, Jason Russell, Nathan Green, Aaron Smith, Alan Matthews, Liam Grier, Sean Rivers, Scott Simpson, Anthony Morrison.

Subs: Wayne Grizzle, Ray Freeman, Danny Moody, Gareth Graham, Kofi Quarty.

Booked: Sean Rivers 11

Attendance: 96

Referee: Mr Barry Holderness (Hornchurch, Essex)

Assistants: Mr Michael Jarvis (Braintree, Essex) & Mr Maurice Cook (Braintree, Essex)