Sittingbourne 2-2 Chipstead - I just hope we can improve all the time, says Jim Ward

Sadly, though the abiding memory of this game will be the dismissal of Chipstead defender Craig Vernon on the stroke of half time for a really nasty head butt on Sittingbourne's top scorer Ryan Golding which led the Sittingbourne striker to be helped from the pitch with blood pouring from a nose wound.

To his immense credit, Referee Pickford, doubled checked with his assistant Mr Whittaker (who had the clearest view of all of the incident) before brandishing the red card. What was really disappointing was Vernon's reaction as he queried the decision which was probably the Essex official's easiest to make all afternoon long.

That said the visitors must be complimented on the way they played after the break a man short, and even Jim Ward admitted that it was right that Chipstead took something from the game.

He said: "Overall, I reckon they were worthy of a point. Fair play to Chipstead, as on the balances of chances, they probably had more than we did even with ten men."

But Ward then turned his attention to the sending off, claiming, "But the guy who got sent off should be locked up as it was shocking - he threw his head right back into my centre forwards face - Ryan did well to carry on but he wasn’t the same player after that despite the fact he tucked away his penalty very well.

“We think he may have broken his nose but we've not sure at this stage, and I cannot believe that their manager tried to defend what he did.

“But one thing we've got in this side is character - we know that. It was just the passing ability and the closing down ability that we were lacking today - things that we pride ourselves on really. We didn’t do as much of that today as we have done in the past - yet we still scored two goals."

The strong swirling bitterly cold wind played havoc with both sides attempts at a passing game in the opening quarter and as a result the game was devoid of any real chances.

However, all that changed on 22 minutes when Surrey side Chipstead took the lead courtesy of Rob Haworth.

Ashley Lodge battled his way through two challenges before laying the ball across the box for Haworth and the former Dartford and Margate (amongst others) hit man buried the ball high into the net from six yards.

The lead lasted for just eleven minutes as Joe Taylor reacted quickest to slide home his seventh goal of the season.

Golding got on the end of a fine ball in behind the right full back, and his drive from the edge of the box took a wicked kick in front of Chipstead keeper Martin Grant and as the ball rebounded, Taylor poked home the equaliser.

At this point, Ward surprised the crowd with a change with Hicham Akhazzan coming on for Tom Loynes in an attempt to give his side more width.

The manager admitted: "Tom's substitution was a tactical one today - I could have taken other players off but Tom was the unlucky one in the end!"

Brickes keeper Adam Molloy then turned sweeper to race out of his area to head clear when it seemed that Shane Graham was clean through, before on the stroke of half time Vernon saw red, though not as much as Golding as the blood poured from the wound on the bridge of his nose!

Twice early in the second half the visitors threatened to retake the lead, but on both occasions the Brickies back line stood tall and firm.

On 50 minutes, Haworth's flick released Graham into the box but Anthony John was on hand to apply enough pressure on the forward to slice his shot wide. Then as a Molloy goal kick held up ridiculously in the wind, substitute French rode two challenges before a sensational block from Aaron Gough meant the chance was gone.

Golding then could have had a hat-trick in 16 absorbing minutes - and will probably feel that he really could and perhaps should have netted at least once.

On 64 minutes the former Crockenhill striker got on the end of a delightful Akhazzan ball, and after holding off two defenders unleashed a shot which beat Grant with ease, but also, sadly for Sittingbourne, whistled just too high.

On 78 minutes, Golding got away down the right and fired wide - had he looked up he'd have seen Akhazzan in acres of space at the back post - but the chance was gone.

Less than 60 seconds later, out of absolutely nothing Golding let fly from 35 yards and with Grant absolutely motionless, the ball could only have missed the right post by a matter of inches.

Just though to show that the home side weren’t having it all their own way, Molloy had to be at his alert best to claw a vicious inswinging corner out from underneath the crossbar, before the home side broke away down the other end, and as Luke Girt (who was sensational throughout the afternoon in the holding role just in front of the Sittingbourne back line) burst into the area, a clumsy challenge sent him sprawling, and after consulting Assistant Mr Chris Myatt, referee Pickford pointed to the spot and Golding drilled home his ninth of the season with just seven minutes left on the clock.

Chipstead at this point could easily have just folded but to their immense credit they rallied and twice substitute French went close - firing across the face of goal on 87 minutes before two minutes later following a powerful run and cross from Josh Andrew, a pure reflex header from the giant striker flew inches too high.

As the 90 minutes ticked by on the watch a long hopeful ball into the Sittingbourne box saw the unlucky Jason Dolby handle the ball under pressure, and French gleefully salvaged what was a deserved point for the ten men.

Brickes joint-boss Ward was his usual frank self in his assessment after the game. He said, "Their first goal was a poor goal for us to concede and the second was just one of those things. I've said before that we're still very much on a learning curve - the last five games at home we've won four and we didn't want to lose that proud record today, but fair play to Chipstead and as I said before, I seriously think that they deserved a point.

“Because we didn't win today against ten men we must start doubted yourselves; you mustn’t get down hearted, and you must believe in the principles that you're playing - you want to pass it; work hard; you want to defend well - the two forwards got a goal each today while both of them probably had the poorest game that they've had all season. But we're getting good results and good return out of both of them and am really pleased that both of them are playing so well!"

"So yes it is hard to be too critical, but it’s mine and Danny's job to be critical and by being critical I just hope that they look to improve all the time."

Sittingbourne:  Adam Molloy, Tom Skelton, Anthony John (Antonio Gonella 61) (Adam Fletcher 73), Jonathan Hogg, Aaron Gough, Luke Girt, Joe Taylor, Russell Bedford, Ryan Golding, Jason Dolby, Tom Loynes (Hicham Akhazzan 33).
Subs:  Connor Coyne, Curtis Winnett

Goals:  Joe Taylor 33, Ryan Golding 83 (pen)

Booked:  Aaron Gough 90

Chipstead: Martin Grant, Josh Andrew, Bruce Hogg, George Murphy, Craig Vernon, Shaun Preddie, Jason Goodchild (Tom Jelly 64), Ashley Lodge, Rob Haworth (Connor French 54), Shane Graham (Kyle Green 54), James McShane.
Subs:  Sean Bradley, Ben King

Goals:  Rob Haworth 22, Connor French 90 (pen)

Booked:  Josh Andrew 1, Shaun Preddie 25, James McShane 70, Kyle Green 85

Sent off:   Craig Vernon 44

Attendance: 148
Referee: Mr Jonathan Pickford (Leigh-on-Sea, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Christopher Myatt (Dartford) & Mr Ryan Whitaker (Bexleyheath)