Sittingbourne 2-1 Fleet Town - We desperately need the crowds to pay our bills - Abbott

Saturday 12th December 2009

SITTINGBOURNE 2-1 FLEET TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 12th December 2009
Mike Green reports from Bourne Park

SITTINGBOURNE were rewarded for their "Free Football Saturday" as Gary Abbott's side came from behind against fancied Fleet Town to win an enthralling and exciting game at Bourne Park.

The Brickies, who had only had one league gate of over 150 before this game, fell behind within two minutes, but roared on by 348 (double their previous highest league gate - 179 vs. Ashford in August), Abbott's side responded courtesy of goals from man of the Match Matt Bourne, and Hitcham Akhazzan's 13th of the season, to take the points and keep the Bourne on the edges of the early Play Off race.

Talking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game, Abbott agreed that "it was a great three points - we put a bit of pressure on the boys by saying that we needed the points today because of the gap in the League table with 5th, 6th and 7th being 10 points or so ahead of us - and fair play to the boys we got them!"

Not even the shock of the early goal upset Abbott. "You know I think we made a decent start apart from Bourney misjudging one long ball forward; but then he goes and scored the equaliser before we went onto win and in truth it could have been three of four really. We work on our corners and its great when they come off like that - we've had a lot of joy from it this season.

“I knew that Andy Sinton likes to play with two wingers so you know that Fleet will always give you a tough game.

“I thought that was one of the best games here for a while as both teams tried to play football, was entertaining although over the 90 minutes the right team won undoubtedly!"

All that after a disastrous start when Nathan Smart took advantage of Bourne's misjudgement to drive the ball across keeper Daren Ibrahim and into the bottom corner of the net.

But it didn't take long for the home side to level - Jimmy Bottle's left wing cross was flicked on by Nick Reeves for Bourne to power home a header which Fleet keeper Lyall Beazley did remarkably well to reach but such was the power behind the ball, the keeper couldn't stop the ball from crossing the line.

That came on 15 minutes and just before the half hour Beazley inadverantly kept his side level with a reflex save that he couldn't have known too much about!

Bottle's cross from the left found Akhazzan at the far post and although his header was move downward, the Fleet keeper managed to block it (either with foot, shin or knee) and was relieved to see the ball hacked clear.

With Sittingbourne's front two of Tom Bradbrook (so good to see him back after such a serious knee injury last season) and Elle Kayembe proving problems to the Fleet defence, it was a surprise that the only other chance the home side had before the break saw Bradbrook forced wide by Beazley when clean through before the keeper blocked the strikers eventual shot.

In first half stoppage time incredibly the visitors had three chances to regain the lead but first Mark Anderson and then Joe Nwoko couldn't get a shot in before full back Tom Bird blazed high over as Darren Wheeler’s break into the box was beaten away.

Whatever Abbott said to his side at half time seemed to work wonders as on 52 minutes came the goal that was to prove decisive.

Kayemebe held the ball up brilliantly in the box and when he couldn't get a shot away, Akhazzan was following up to drill the ball high into the roof of the net!

The goal sparked Fleet into life and on 62 minutes Ibrahim pulled off two stunning saves within sixty seconds.

Firstly the Bourne keeper did really well to claw out Wheeler's vicious in swinging corner, and as the visitors regained possession they worked a position for Smart to unleash a 25 yard drive which Ibrahim did brilliantly to tip over the bar!

The game ebbed and flowed with Bottle going close for the home side with a driven ball across the face of goal before Anderson headed straight at Ibrahim when well placed.

The game finished in swirling rain but not even that was enough to dampen the spirits of Bourne Park's biggest League gate of the season so far - a point that wasn't lost on the manager.

"Got told about the free entry and Andy (Spice) wants to try and get more people through the gate which is something we desperately need to help pay the bills," Abbott added.

"348 is more than double what we have been getting so I just hope that those who did come down today saw a good game - saw that we try and play good football - there was great movement and great passing from us today - hopefully they'll go away after enjoying a good entertaining attacking game and that some of them will come back on Wednesday night against Margate."

Sittingbourne: Daren Ibrahim, Joe Horlock (Matt McHugh 89), Joe Dowley, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Billy Manners, Hticham Akhazzan, Colin Richmond, Tom Bradbrook (Ashley grant 68), Elle Kayembe, Jimmy Bottle.
Subs: Richard Brady, Barney Abbott, Dixon Nystrom Baker

Goals: Matt Bourne 15, Hicham Akhazzan 52

Booked: Elle kayembe 41, Joe Dowley 78

Fleet Town: Lyall Beazley, Ian Griffin (Ebenezer Masade 77), Tom Bird, Ligh Rumbold, Steve Noames, Luke Evans, Nathan Smart, Paul Harkness (James Field 50), Mark Anderson, Joe nwoko (Eddie Smith 63), Darren Wheeler.
Subs: Darren Campbell, David Smalley

Goal: Nathan Smart 2

Booked: Tom Bird 76

Attendance: 348
Referee: Mr David Buck (Istead Rise)
Assistants: Mr Paul Gorvett (Erith) & Mr Tim Burman (Welling)