Sittingbourne 3-2 Margate - I want to be the Championship Manager, says Abbott

Wednesday 16th December 2009

SITTINGBOURNE 3-2 MARGATE
Championship Manager Cup Third Round
Wednesday 16th December 2009
Mike Green reports from Bourne Park

SITTINGBOURNE cruised into the last 16 of the Championship manager Ryman League Cup with a convincing win over Ryman Premier neighbours Margate on a bitterly cold night at Bourne Park.

Only two goals in the final three minutes from Dan Stubbs game the final score a hint of respectability, but as assistant manager Steve Beeks admitted to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game "We didn't play in the way we'd have liked to tonight. We thought they'd have a good go at us which they did - thought the first half was fairly even, even though at times our decision making was sloppy and our passing wasn't what we'd like it to be."

Naturally Brickies boss Gary Abbott was far happier even if the finish bewildered him. He told www.kentishfootball.co.uk: "All we wanted to do was to keep us going and get another win really and that's what we got.

“We need to get a good run now up to and beyond Christmas which is why it was so good to get the game played tonight.

“We were 3-0 and cruising after the a first half that wasn't the best when we weren't at the races really. Words were said at half time just to liven things up as I thought we were a bit light hearted despite being a goal up. Then we came out and got two quick goals but I honestly thought we should have been 4 or 5 up really and then we were strolling until the last 10 minutes when we made a couple of changes to sake things up a bit.

“But we didn't keep the ball and they got into it with two quick goals - don't know what happened with the first one and the second one seemed as if we wanted extra time but a wins a win so we're happy!"

After a fairly even opening half, in which clear chances were at a premium, the home side grabbed the lead in stoppage time.

Jimmy Bottle did well to win a corner down the left, from which Nick Reeves flicked on for Tom Bradbrook to loop the ball over keeper Matt Read and into the top corner of the net.

Beeks expected a second half response from his team, saying: "We were expecting to come out and give it a go second half and we didn't! Every defeat is a kick in the teeth although the manner of the defeat was the most disappointing thing about the night.

“We went 2-0 down with 40 minutes to go and we should have then got the game by the scruff of the neck and really get stuck into Sittingbourne. Yet the lack of belief from our team and disappointing mental strength that they should was particularly frustrating."

To say it all went wrong for the visitors at the start of the second half was like saying it was a cold night at Bourne Park!

Hicham Akhazzan reacted quickest to drill home from the edge of the box on 48 minutes after Elie Kayembe had done well to hold the ball up, before the giant striker himself made it three nil on 56 after Bradbrook had done well down the right.

Margate heads dropped and they were facing a real drubbing as the home side piled forward - Akhazzan drove the ball across the face of goal (any touch would have taken it in); Kayembe headed over before full back Joe Horlock let fly twice inside 90 seconds - both times the ball whistled narrowly wide.

Stubbs pulled one back for Margate on 87 minutes, after Lloyd Blackman had nodded down a free kick and that seemed to be a mere consolation.

Yet, within a minute Stubbs was on hand again to hammer home after the home defence went missing to give the end of the game an edge which quite frankly it didn't deserve.

Indeed many expected this game to be postponed for a second time and given that the crowd was only 130, it seemed as though many had decided to stay at home.

Even Abbott was surprised, but then when he realised that the Tuesday night Kent senior Trophy game that had been scheduled for Bourne Park was postponed, Abbott admitted, "To be honest I didn't know last nights game had been called off because if it had of gone ahead we probably wouldn't have played - but we did want the game on and we wanted to win.

“We want to get a good run in the competition and there's no reason we can’t - its nice to be in the next round but the league's the important thing now and we hopefully go now to Whyteleafe on Saturday.

Beeks too was focused on Christmas when he admitted that "We've some big games coming up over Christmas starting with Sutton and hopefully the players will respond and pick themselves up especially after the way they played tonight. All I can say is that Mark picked a good night to miss and I think that he may owe me one!!!"

Sittingbourne: Deren Ibrahim, Joe Horlock, Joe Dowley, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Billy Manners, Hicham Akhazzan, Colin Richmond (Richard Brady 68), Elie Kayembe (Barney Abbott 72), Jimmy Bottle (Matt McHugh 61).
Subs: Ashley Grant, Kewku Ansah.

Goals: Tom Bradbrook 45, Hicham Akhazzan 48, Elie Kayembe 56

Booked: Joe Horlock 78, Matt McHugh 80

Margate: Matt Reed, Ben Clarke, Curtis Robinson (Aaron Lacy 42), James Duncan, Charlie read, Luke Wheatley, Wayne Wilson (Joe Taylor 61), Antonia Gonnella, Lloyd Blackman, Sam Cliff, Dan Stubbs.
Sub: John Keister.

Goals: Dan Stubbs 87, 88

Attendance: 130
Referee: Mr Mick O’Keeffe (Sundbridge)
Assistants: Mr F Collins (Beckenham) & Mr James Macey (Bexley)