Sittingbourne 1-0 Dover Athletic - You have to fight for your place back - Hess and Abbott

Saturday 18th July 2009

SITTINGBOURNE 1-0 DOVER ATHLETIC
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 18th July 2009
Mike Green reports from Bourne Park

AN enjoyable contest at Bourne Park was settled ten minutes from half-time by Sittingbourne’s third-choice striker, who was only leading the home line because others were unavailable.

And when Dave Milton’s deflected through ball to Hicham Akhazzan showed all the composure of his missing senior colleagues to score the goal that sank Blue Square South bound Dover Athletic.

If Milton’s through ball owed a lot to luck, then Akhazzan’s finish was superb - with the striker clipping the ball over former Brickies goalkeeper Lee Hook and into the net.

It was yet more pre-season frustration for Andy Hessenthaler and the Dover Athletic boss later bemoaned the fact.

“We started well against Barnet and Maidstone, but with all respect when up against seemingly lesser opposition, some of those players have today had a lesson in reality,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’ve learnt a lot about a lot of people today and given them all a flee in their ear in the dressing room.

“It’s ok having a lot of the ball but we’ve just not scoring goals.”

And that was despite the presence in the Dover starting line-up of Gillingham youngster Luis Cumbers, who Hessenthaler revealed later would be back in the Gills squad for their friendly at Bishop’s Stortford on Tuesday.

“Mark (Stimson) knows that we’re interested in Luis, but I know he’s part of Mark’s plans but later in the season perhaps who knows?”

But whilst Cumbers struck up a good early rapport with Adam Burchall, it was Sittingbourne keeper Daren Ibrahim who was the undoubted star of the afternoon.

The keeper, who is still technically a Dartford player, was outstanding, with a series of fine stops.

Whether or not Ibrahim will be in between the Brickies’ sticks come August 15th still remains to be seen, as Brickies boss Gary Abbott revealed afterwards.

“He really played a blinder today, and we’re hopeful that we can do something once Tony (Burman) returns from holiday this week,” Abbott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“The advantage we have here as apposed to a club like Dover is that we can offer Daren guaranteed first team football and for a kid of his age I’m hoping that, that could well be the deciding factor.”

And at times such was Dover’s territorial dominance that Ibrahim and his defence, which were superbly marshalled by Nick Reeves and former Dover defender Matt Bourne, really did have a thorough work out.

Ibrahim’s first save of note came as early as the seventh minute when the keeper denied Burchall with a fine block.

Moments later, it was Cumbers’ turn to be denied - clean through the Gillingham youngster (whose still recovering from the broken leg that curtailed his season last time) saw his shot come back of Ibrahim’s left knee and away to safety.

As the half wore on, the Brickies’ established more of a foothold and when Akhazzan scored on 35 minutes, it didn’t really come as too much of a surprise.

Within 90 seconds of scoring, Akhazzan turned provider, only for Milton to be denied by a fabulous Hook block as Milton looked to have skipped round the former Eastbourne Borough keeper.

Ibrahim continued to star at the other end and his best save of the half came from another former Brickie, Lee Browning, whose 20-yard drive saw the keeper spring to his right to palm the ball away to safety.

Within 60 seconds of the restart, Burchall was again denied by Ibrahim’s left leg and ten minutes later the former Barnet striker saw a low drive only parried but instead of falling to the waiting substitute, Frannie Collin the ball ricochet off the striker’s shoulder and span away to safety.

Jerahl Hughes then centred for Burchall, who this time, was denied by a combination of the keeper and Bourne.

As Dover pushed for an equaliser, they left space at the back and Milton was only a fraction away from making it 2-0 with a curler which went just too high as the Brickies caught the visitors on the break.

Akhazzan could have made the game safe on 71 minutes when Ibrahim’s huge goal-kick was missed by everybody and the young striker saw his lob sail into the crowd behind the goal.

Back came Dover as Hughes, who was proving to be a real handful for the Sittingbourne left flank, then managed to pull the ball back for Al McGaw, who was denied by yet another Ibrahaim fine save, before a patient Dover build up saw Collin drill the ball straight at the Sittingbourne goalkeeper.

Dover continued in a desperate search for the equaliser, but their best chance of the closing ten minutes proved to be a victim of the weather as James Rogers saw a header bounce down and fly over the bar off of a rock hard playing surface.

Brickies boss Abbott was a contented man afterwards, “We’re well happy with that, we’ve played against a good side today and I think we’ve had the better chances, but then again, our keeper was brilliant!

“It was a great finish by Hicham and although I’m not too bothered about the result (although it was nice to win), I do think we need to look at the system as they’re only two weekends left.

“The thing is that Brades (assistant player-manager Richard Brady) is away in South America, Bradley (Spice) is on holiday and Tom (Bradbrook) won’t play this season, it was great to see the young man play so well.

“We’re making steady progress this pre-season, progress I hope we can continue come Whyteleafe on opening day.”

Both managers were of the same opinion, however, when it came to players who missed out today.

“I don’t mind them going away,” said Abbott. “Just as long as they don’t expect to come straight back into the team.

“My skipper Joe Dowley is away but will be back next week, but on that display he may not get back into the starting eleven.”

Meanwhile, Hessenthaler also, whilst accepting that some people cannot choose when to have their family breaks, which must be taken out of term time, bemoaned that not all of his squad are currently available.

“I’ve made it clear to all off them that if they do go away no-one is guaranteed anything when they return,” he said.

“We’ve had a couple of disappointments and frustrating performances this week, but that said, I’d sooner have them happen now than in a month’s time.”

Next up for Sittingbourne is a trip to Erith Town on Wednesday (being played at Charlton Athletic's training ground), whilst Dover Athletic welcome Hayes & Yeading United to Crabble on Tuesday.

Sittingbourne: Daren Ibrahim, Femi Omogbehin, Billy Manners, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Martin Henry (Andrew Newman 64), Andre Marques (Den Style 71), Joe Horlock, Hicham Akhazzan, Colin Richmond, Dave Milton.
Subs: Jack Walter, Kiweku Ansah, Ben Staples.

Goal: Hicham Akhazzan 35

Dover Athletic: Lee Hook (John Whitehouse 76), Danny Walder (Tom Davis 46), Sam Gore (James Rogers 46), Dean Hill (Ollie Schulz 46), Jake Leberl (John Keister 46), Nicky Southall, Jon Wallis (Jerhal Hughes 46), Sammy Moore, Adam Burchall, Luis Cumbers (Frannie Collin 46), Lee Browning (Al McGaw 64).

Attendance: 161
Referee: Mr Stuart Butler (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Guy Marley (Bexleyheath) & Mr Simon Finnigan (Maidstone)