Sittingbourne 1-2 Chipstead - We've thrown away our chances of making the play-off's, fums Abbott

And the game ended with Ryan Golding on the receiving end of a straight red card for stamping on Chips full-back Russell Bedford.
 
It certainly isn’t a good time to be a Brickie, as boss Gary Abbott explained to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game. 

He said: “We may have got a Cup Final last Night (Sittingbourne beat Cray on penalties to reach the Kent Senior Cup Final) but my priority has always been the League and to get in the play-off's. 

“But I think that we’ve thrown our chances away to be honest – we’ve played four of the bottom five, and have to go to Walton casuals on Saturday, and we’ve lost to everyone of them and if, with the greatest respect, you can beat those teams, then you don’t deserve to be in the play-offs.”
 
Sittingbourne at time did look a very tired side – testament to their crazy recent run of fixtures where Abbott’s side have already played 11 games in the last 25 days! 

“Our schedule had has been just ridiculous – why couldn’t the league have extended the season,” the Brickies manager fumed. 

“I know we haven’t been the only team that’s had to play Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, but this week to play Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – with extra time in the semi-final last night is hard. 

“But there are only five players that played last night that played tonight – we’ve tried to give players the rest that they need but I just think our problems began when we lost to Whitstable. 

“We’d just got a good point at Fleet, and should have beaten Whitstable, but gave them three goals.  And if you go through our last four games we’ve given seven goals away and that’s not good enough,” bemoaned a frustrated Abbott. 

“But you can’t take anything away from them tonight – they wanted it more than we did; they worked so hard – I wish we worked as hard as they did, especially against the bottom sides because if we had done, then I’m convinced that we’d be in the play-off’s.

“It’s like we’ve just given up and I want to win every game.  We were two nil down and I’m hearing players saying “it doesn’t matter!”  Of course it matters and that’s why I changed it and to be fair if you look at the chances, they’ve had two shots all game and get two goals. 

“We’ve had seven chances tonight and just aren’t putting them away.  It wasn’t until the last half hour that we had a go.  If Jimmy Bottle could have scored rather than hitting the keeper’s knees it would have changed the game and I think we go on and win it!  We haven’t put them away and so they win the game.”
 
Clearly jaded from the two hours on Tuesday night, it was little surprise that Chipstead started the brighter of the two teams, although it took 23 minutes for the visitors to make their first chance as Scott Simpson low drive caused keeper Deren Ibrahim problems, and indeed in making the save the Brickies keeper hurt his wrist and moments later that was to prove so costly. 

It came on 32 minutes when Jason Thompson drilled a free kick into the box and although the keeper got across to the ball his injured wrist couldn’t prevent the free kick from squirming into the net. 

Indeed Sittingbourne’s first half was summed up in stoppage time.  A long ball into the Chipstead box was nodded down by Billy Manners and with keeper Adam Peck on walkabout duty, the ball cannoned off of two defenders and into the arms of a very relieved keeper.
 
It was a rejuvenated home side that came out after the break – Hicham Akhazzan shot just over before Bottle was denied by a fine block from Peck with his knees. 

But all the optimism disappeared on the hour when the visitors extended their lead. 

The Brickies defence seemed to have cleared a cross but as it dropped to Thompson 30 yards out, the full back unleashed a wonderful drive that flew past Ibrahim and into the net. 

Former Maidstone striker Ray Freeman should have put the game beyond the home side as he raced clear, but just as he was about to lob the ball over the advancing keeper, it bobbled horribly and the lob was completely slice.
 
Finally there was something to cheer for the home fans eleven minutes from time when Hooper got on the end of a right wing corner – timing his run perfectly to power home the header to give those flickering play-off dreams hope! 

Hope that almost became reality as Golding (with a little help from Chipstead defender Craig Pitterson) managed to get the ball past Peck only for former Erith Town defender Lee Coburn to clear the ball bobbling towards the empty net away to safety. 

The with just three minute son the click, Tom Bradbrook got to the line and his centred and somehow with the goal at his mercy Jamie Nutall put the ball wide. 
 
Deep into stoppage time, Golding received his marching orders and eventually left the field after getting his point across to a few of the opposition players!
 
Given their recent poor run, Abbott was surprisingly upbeat about his side next hurdle – a Thursday night visit of Godalming – a game that is FREE OF CHARGE to watch. 

“I’ve just told the players that we’ll beat Godalming tomorrow – I’ll almost guarantee that we’ll win on Thursday as against teams at the top we want to match them and it’s just so frustrating that we cant do that against teams at the bottom.” 

Clearly fed up Abbott continued, “I’m so gutted tonight you wouldn’t believe.  I just don’t want our season now to drift.  If we lose our last six games we’ll end up 13^th or 14^th and I don’t want that to happen. 

“We’re not going to get to the play-offs now, and we’ve got to a Cup final, which is great, but my priority was to make the play-off’s but we’ve thrown it away. 

“We haven’t worked hard enough especially from the front – we want desire and we just haven’t seen that.  It’s frustrating and it’s annoying and it’s getting like that we just want the season to finish!  It’s hard right now, and tomorrow night will literally be for those who want to play football.  We’ll go strong and I guarantee that we’ll beat them tomorrow.”

Sittingbourne: Deren Ibrahim, Joe Horlock, Joe Foster, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Jamie Nutall, Hicham Akhazzan (Ryan Golding 64), Colin Richmond (Jack Hooper 53), Jimmy Bottle, Elie Kayembe (Tom Bradbrook 64), Billy Manners.
Subs: Richard Brady, Karl Dent

Goal: Jack Hooper 78

Booked: Matt Bourne 45

Sent Off: Ryan Golding 90
 
Chipstead: Adam Peck, Russell Bedford, Jason Thompson, Lois Hollingsworth, Lee Coburn, Craig Pitterson, Alec Brown (Wayne Grizzle 64), Alan Mathew, Ray Freeman (Liam Wright 73) Scott Simpson, Anthony Morrison.
Subs: Sanchez Ming, James Russell, Danny Dudley.

Goals: Jason Thompson 32, 61
 
Attendance: 84
Referee: Mr Adam Crysell (Braintree, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Michael Jarvis (Braintree, Essex) & Mr Maurice Cook (Braintree, Essex)