Ryman League Division 1 South Table Table is up to and including Saturday 30th January 2016
Saturday <strong>2nd</strong> January 2016 Ryman League Div 1 South Faversham Town 1 <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> 0 Att 284 Match Reports By Tony Rickson Battling <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> just failed in their bid to preserve their unbeaten run as the New Year kicked off under grey and wet skies. Defeat by the only goal of a closely-contested derby match ended a run of five games unbeaten for <strong>Sittingbourne</strong>, and took Faversham up to the top four of the Ryman South Division. The defeat was so similar to many <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> endured in the 13-match run that preceded their recent good form. Just by the odd goal, with little between the teams, and <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> staging a late rally in a frantic but unsuccessful search for an equaliser. Let’s hope this derby defeat isn’t the start of another poor run – though there looks to be a bit more steel and grit about this current <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> side. They made just one change from the team that hammered Ramsgate 4-0 last Monday, Jordan Wells earning a starting place after his six-minute hat-trick as a late substitute in that game. Faversham won an important toss and chose to play into the wind in the first half, which turned out to be pretty even. Jack Steventon was caught out one-on-one early on by a midfield mistake and had to take a booking for the team – 85 minutes is a long time to hold out for a young defender without getting into trouble again, but he made it. The ever-running Miles Cornwell stretched the Faversham defence the whole game, but he failed with a couple of first half chances provided by Wells. The first one was saved by the keeper and the second Cornwell blasted over. He also got on the end of a lovely run from halfway by Steven Ita but his low cross into the area eluded the supporting players. The best chance of the half for <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> fell to Josh Wisson following an Ita free-kick into the box, but keeper Godmon rushed out to block the teenager’s powerful shot. Faversham went close with one header but mainly seemed ready to bide their time and wait for more opportunities to come their way with the wind and driving rain behind them in the second half. And that’s the way it turned out as they took the lead on 55 minutes following a throw-in on the right. Robertson, who was so impressive for Faversham against <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> last season, cut in on goal and fired in a shot which goalkeeper Adam Molloy saved. But he couldn’t hold onto the ball in a crowded area and Matt Bourne, who went to school in <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> and played a long time for his home town club before joining Faversham, swept in the rebound. <strong>Sittingbourne</strong> responded well to the setback and had most of the possession for the rest of the half, going close but not close enough to an equaliser. Billy French headed wide from a corner, sub Hicham Akhazzan shot over, Cornwell blasted straight at the keeper and just failed to control a Tom Brunt through ball when he would have been in on goal, sub Dan Hughes shot wide when nicely set up by Ita, and Ita himself fired in a low shot which keeper Godmon did well to hold onto under pressure. So for <strong>Sittingbourne</strong>, all that endeavour in tiring conditions produced no end result and a disappointing finish to their recovery. But they’ve still managed to put a good bit of distance between themselves and the relegation-threatened bottom three and should surely continue their climb away from trouble if they maintain their current commitment and determination. <strong>Sittingbourne</strong>: Molloy, Brunt, Richardson, French, Steventon, Wisson, Wright (Akhazzan 66 mins), Bankole (Wilkins 62 mins), Wells (Hughes 79 mins), Cornwell, Ita. Sponsors of the Woodstock stadium—www.dma-group.co.uk