Sittingbourne 3-1 Whyteleafe

Sittingbourne paraded the same starting line up that did so well in last weeks match at Tooting and Mitcham meaning that Lee Browning partnered Mark Lovell up front whilst goalkeeper Steve Williams was still feeling the effects of his neck injury so he made way once again for Josh Willis, writes Peter Pitts.

Sittingbourne always looked the better side in this game but with it being so long since their last victory - fifteen games ago at Dartford on 25th November 2006.

They started hesitantly but luckily Whyteleafe also started slowly. Sittingbourne had a great chance to take the lead on 15 minutes when Lee Browning had just Whyteleafe keeper Danny Coote to beat but he miss-hit his attempted lob and the ball trickled into the keepers arms.

Browning though went on to have an outstanding game and was deservedly given the Man of the match award.

Whyteleafe had a good effort on 27 minutes when a Joe Clark header was spectacularly saved by the diving Willis but generally it was the Brickies with the best attempts and on 35 minutes a Mark Lovell shot hit Browning who back flipped the ball which bounced up and hit the bar and bounced to safety.

The dull first half was followed by an exciting second half in which Sittingbourne took the game by the scruff of the neck and in an entertaining six minutes the crowd was presented with three goals.

On 57 minutes a Brickies corner was cleared, but only as far as Kieran Marsh who at last rediscovered his scoring touch by blasting an unstoppable shot past Coote.

The lead lasted just two minutes before a dazzling run by Whyteleafe’s Chris O’Flaherty ended in a shot that flew past Willis and the Surrey side were level.

Instead of bemoaning their luck Sittingbourne dusted themselves down and three minutes later a through ball found Browning lurking in the Whyteleafe penalty area, just as he was about to shoot he was brought down, the ball broke to Lovell who fired it into the net but referee Mr Cooper had already blown for a penalty.

Penalties are mixed blessings for Sittingbourne these days with them having scored only one from the last six awarded.

Mitchell Shewood was given the task and he didn’t flinch as he slotted the ball low and to the right of the diving Coote and Sittingbourne were back in the lead.

Sittingbourne continued to be in command and they put the result beyond doubt in the third minute of injury time when the irrepressible fired home from Lovell’s pass.

Steve Lovell’s side travel to basement boys Corinthian Casuals next Saturday.

Sittingbourne: Willis, Ashmore, Dowley, Ainsworth, Campbell, Marsh, Hogg, Searle, Lovell, Browning, Sherwood.
Subs: Akhazzan, Hockey, Trabelsi, Williams

Attendance: 171