Ryman League Division 1 South Table Table is up to and including Tues<strong>day</strong> 8th <strong>December</strong> <strong>2015</strong>
Satur<strong>day</strong> 5th <strong>December</strong> <strong>2015</strong> Ryman League Div 1 South Molesey 2 <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> 1, att 73 <strong>Match</strong> Reports By Tony Rickson The abiding memory of this <strong>12th</strong> successive league defeat for <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> came in the 88th minute when Jono Richardson lifted his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. This is not digging Jono out, because he’s been an outstanding player for <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> who always gives 100 per cent. But his miss summed up their <strong>day</strong>, as of all the defeats they’ve suffered this was probably the game they went closest to getting something from. I thought they were the better side in the first half and they certainly finished the second half on top, going so close to pulling something out of the bag against a Molesey team who have now won nine out of their eleven home games this season. But the Brickies trekked home from Surrey with nothing to show for it again, and although they’ve still got more than half a season left to recover some form, they need to start picking up results very soon. On a grey blustery <strong>day</strong>, <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> showed two changes from the team that lost to high-flying Worthing on Tues<strong>day</strong> night. Young striker Jordan Wells, signed from Folkestone in the deal that saw top scorer Harry Smith go the other way, came straight in for his debut, while Billy French returned in defence. Down to substitute went Steven Ita and Stefan Wright. Going downhill in the first half, <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> occasionally overhit the ball trying to get their two strikers in behind the defence, but they were certainly well in the game. Miles Cornwell, who worked tirelessly up front alongside the promising Wells, had the best chance of the half when Ollie Bankole sent him clear but the keeper saved a left-foot drive with his legs. At the other end, George Crimmen led strong resistance and the only time the defence got breached, Adam Molloy made a good diving save. <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> must have come out for the other second half feeling this was a game they could really get something from, but so, too, did Molesey perhaps, as within two minutes they were ahead. The home side worked the ball down the right and cut it back from the byline for the experienced Palmer to hit a clever shot inside the post. The game became much more stretched with Wells shooting wide and then being foiled by the keeper and Hicham Akhazzan sending a freekick past the near post. Molesey were more dangerous, too, and in between picking up five second half bookings for offences ranging from deliberate handball to elbowing and time-wasting, they forced another good save out of Molloy and Palmer put a great chance over the bar on the turn. Into the last 10 minutes and the game was still wide open but Molesey looked to have assured themselves of the win when the outstanding McShane ran in behind the defence and scored an excellent second goal. But back came <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> and lively sub Stef Wright got his throw-in beyond all the big men and right across the goal for another sub, Ita, to get a simple first goal for the club. The drama wasn’t over as with Cornwell suddenly finding space in the channels, it was all <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> with Molesey desperately hanging on. Crimmen just failed to get a vital touch in front of goal on one chance, Richardson blasted his great opportunity over, and Cornwell got in another low cross from the right that went right across the face of the goal with nobody able to add a finishing touch. So near yet so far, and <strong>Sittingbourne</strong>’s wait for their first point since September drags on … <strong>Sittingbourne</strong>: Molloy, Brunt, Lee, Crimmen, French, Richardson, Wisson (Wright 81 mins, Cornwell, Wells (Hughes 73 mins), Bankole, Akhazzan Sponsors of the Woodstock stadium—www.dma-group.co.uk
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