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Match Reports by Tony Rickson
Saturday 16th September 2017
Bostik League South
Sittingbourne 3 VCD 2 att 147
When the final whistle blew after recent home
wins over Herne Bay and Whyteleafe, Sittingbourne
players leapt in the air whooping
their delight.
Their reaction to this win, which maintains their
unbeaten home record in the league this season,
was altogether different and far more restrained.
They even looked a little sheepish, for this was
by far from a vintage Sittingbourne performance
against quite talented and awkward opponents.
But a win’s a win, it’s three points whether you
play well or badly, and the victory takes them
back up to fifth in the Bostik South League table.
For this match, squeezed in between sunshine
and showers, Sittingbourne made just one
change from the starting line-up on Tuesday,
when their unbeaten start to the season was
ended at Faversham. Back came David Smith
out wide, with Tom Loynes reverting to the No
10 role, and George Blake dropping down to
substitute.
VCD had let in more goals in the division this
season than any other team, and they showed
why with just a minute played. Chris Eliiott hit a
free-kick into the area and while the visiting defence
hesitated, top scorer Bola Dawodu was
left completely unmarked to head easily home.
The north Kent side hadn’t even got the ball out
of their own half at that stage, but it only took
them five minutes to equalise, Darboe converting
a right-wing cross at the far post.
Sittingbourne went close to restoring their lead
with Smith volleying wide and Kane Rowland
heading just over, but VCD were well in the
game the rest of the first half and Daren
Hawkes had to make a smart tip-over from
Baker’s header.
VCD were giving the Sittingbourne defence
quite a test, one of the toughest they’ve had
this season, but they stood up to it well and
went in front again nine minutes into the second
half.
Kane Phillip crossed from the right and with
Loynes pressing from behind, VCD captain
Duncan could only head his attempted clearance
beyond his own keeper into the net.
There was a welcome return to action as substitute
by Miles Cornwell and he immediately
opened up the VCD defence with a shrewd run
only to hit his shot just wide of the far post.
VCD wouldn’t lie down and equalised for a second
time when Darboe outmuscled Lex Allan to
chase down a long through ball and score comfortably.
Not sure why his colleagues didn't
bother to run to congratulate him, though.
Sittingbourne lost captain Ben Gorham to injury
which meant the last 25 minutes with Allan
joined in central defence by recent signing John
Coker, but the two of them stood up to the test
well.
It was the home side who mounted more pressure
and Phillip had a close range effort
blocked and then Loynes got clear but unselfishly
tried to set up Rowland only for VCD to
scramble the ball away.
But it was from the resulting corner that Sittingbourne
got the winner, Elliott providing his
second assist of the afternoon as he swung it in
for Coker to rise highest in the six-yard box and
head home.
VCD still had time to miss a great chance to
equalise but Sittingbourne held out for all three
points, a welcome bounce-back from the Faversham
midweek setback.
Those thrilling wins over Herne Bay and Whyteleafe
set such a high standard that it was
probably never going to be maintained, but
that’s
10 points out of 12 at home this season for Sittingbourne.
And that’s promotion form!
Sittingbourne: Daren Hawkes, Chris Webber,
Chris Elliott, Ollie Brown, Ben Gorham (John
Coker, 66 min), Lex Allan, Kane Phillip (Tyrone
Guthrie, 83 min), Bola Dawodu, Kane Rowland,
Tom Loynes, David Smith (Yellow card) (Miles
Cornwell, 55 min). Subs not used: George
Blake, Harry Brooks.
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E mail: peter@kentmcl.co.uk