Sittingbourne 2-1 Corinthian-Casuals - We're really in there with a chance now, says Abbott

Bradbrook’s goal came at a point when the Brickies’ showed all of their resilience as they had been reduced to ten men, following the 72^nd minute dismissal of full-back Ryan Andrews.

Manager Abbott, who himself was asked to leave the dug-out for comments to an assistant, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk admitted that he thought it was going to be one of those nights as his side struggled to over come the team just one off the bottom of the table.

With the top of the table now showing just four points separating leaders Kingstonian and Abbott’s side, who are now seventh, the manager praised his players.

“We had to dig in tonight and I’ve got to be honest, I couldn’t see where we were going to score again.

"From where I was Ryan had to go, although he said he didn’t touch the player, I think the referee got it right.

“That said, I don’t think he had that good a game, but we’ve got to be happy with the points.”

Reflecting on the third home debut of Bradley Spice, following his return from Ashford Town, Brickies assistant manager Richard Brady said, “Bradley gives us another option and is really something that we haven’t had. The way he moves from side-to-side and works the channels is great to play with and you saw from the goal that won us the game how good he can be.

“It’s great to have him back, as we’ve now got the experience that we were perhaps lacking.”

And indeed it was Brady’s experience on the half-hour that gave Sittingbourne the lead, as he cleverly turned his man, after being played in by Bradbrook, before driving low into the net for his seventeenth goal of the season before leaving the field with a groin injury.

If the first half, apart from Brady’s goal, was non descript, the second was explosive.

On 52 minutes, Bradbrook had a shot blocked by Corinthian-Casuals’ goalkeeper Colin Harris, and substitute Hichham Akhazzan was denied by the keeper’s right boot as the ball trickled goalwards.

The game swung the visitors’ way on the hour when Joe Dowley was adjudged to have blocked a shot from Joe Nwoko with his arm, which referee John Rowbury awarded a spot kick for full-back Dale Hennesey comfortably beat keeper Matt Reed from the spot.

Hennesey then denied Nick Reeves as he cleared the Sittingbourne defender’s header off the line following a brilliant double save, which first denied Colin Richmond and then saw an Andrews 20-yard rocket finger tipped over.

On 73 minutes, the pendulum swung back to Corinthian-Casuals as Andrews was dismissed for a foul on substitute Jamal Carr, a decision which incensed the Brickies’ faithful.

Yet, incredibly, as so often happens, the ten-men responded in the best possible way.

Eight minutes from time, Richmond released Spice down the right and the substitute’s cross was completely missed by Harris and Bradbrook walked the ball into the empty net.

Moments later, Harris redeemed himself by making a stunning save low to his left to deny the former Dartford striker his second.

The victory could have been sealed in stoppage time as Spice again raced clear. But the substitute was denied by a fine block.

The final whistle brought relief from the home supporters and throws Sittingbourne well and truly into the shake up.

Twelve games left and just four points behind leaders Kingstonian, no wonder Abbott smiled when admitting afterwards, “We’re really in there with a chance now, Worthing play the Met Police tomorrow, Cray go to Walton & Hersham, we’ve done our bit, we’ll just wait and see.

“The boys are back in on Thursday and then we’re at Chipstead at the weekend, but we know we really are in the middle of it.”

Sittingbourne: Matt Reed, Ryan Andrews, Joe Dowley, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Rio Alderton, Colin Richmond, Mark De Bolla, Tom Bradbrook (Kieran Marsh 87), Richard Brady (Hickham Akhazzan 31), Mark Green (Bradley Spice 64).
Subs: Joe Horlock, Pat Gradley.

Goals: Richard Brady 29, Tom Bradbrook 82

Booked: Nick Reeves 39, Tom Bradbrook 57, Matt Bourne 80

Sent off: Ryan Andrews 72, Gary Abbott (manager 76)

Corinthian-Casuals: Colin Harris, Joe Funicello, Dale Hennesey, Youseff Metwali, Chris Horwood, Jamie Reive, (Luke Gay 84), Gavin Cartwright, Saheed Sankoh (Jamal Carr 71), Joe Nwoko, Kane Serjeant.
Sub: Martin Dunne.

Goal: Dale Hennesey 61 (pen)

Booked: Saheed Sankoh 39, Kane Serjeant 54

Attendance: 127
Referee: Mr John Rowbury (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Daniel Wyatt (Orpington) & Mr Martin Lehane (Bexleyheath)