Sittingbourne’s improved run of results under Ryan Maxwell continued with a goalless draw at Homelands as Ashford United lost ground on the Play Off places.

United boss Tommy Warrilow would have been disappointed that his side couldn’t convert their first half possession into goals but they found the Brickies back line in fine form, and in the ended a point each was probably about right and deserved, as in the final analysis, the Brickies had the hances particularly in the second half but overall a point apiece was probably about right.

Early on Cheynie Burgin forced home keeper Jacob Russell into a great save as the big striker muscled through on the edge of the box – indeed it looked as if the big striker had beaten Russell with his shot only for the keeper to stretch the extra inches just in time to make the fingertip save.

As the home side grew into the game, it almost became a contest between Danny Parrish and Brickies stopper Harley Early, whilst the battle between Gary Lockyer and Joe Ellul was a throwback between the traditional “old English” centre forward vs central defender.

Parrish just wasn’t big enough to convert the best move of the first half as Johan Ter Horst’s brilliant centre whistled across the box. Shortly after, Parrish got on the end of a left wing cross only to see his header magnificently kept out by Earle, and just before the break, Parrish, who was a constant menace throughout, wriggled through on the angle but only Earle standing up superbly well kept the scoreline blank at the break.

The second half saw the visitors create more and more chances as they grew into the game. Youssouf Bamba had a free kick that Russell did well to hold before pulling off a really smart save to keep out an effort from Aaron Eyoma. Matt Warren played a brilliant ball down the channel and as Eyoma cut inside his low near post drive was kept out by the keepers feet.

Bamba had a chance with a vicious swerving drive which seemed to have deceived the home keeper but Russell stuck out a leg and managed to divert the ball away for a corner. But the best chance the visitors had came from another fine run from Bamba and the unlucky Sergio Uyi couldn’t mark a great debut by getting over his header and the ball sailed over the bar.

Late on former Sittingbourne defender Ben Gorham received his marching orders for
a second yellow card as the game drew to its goal less close.

ASHFORD UNITED – Russell, Ossai, Samms, Saunders (Friend), Gorham, Dickens, Muggeridge, Ter Horst, Lockyer, Parrish (Dome-Bemein), Azeez (Cook-Bartholomew)

Subs – Towens, Douglas

SITTINGBOURNE – Earle, Jones (Kileba), Graham, Ellul, Uyi, Pont, Mbonkwi, Warren. Burgin, Eyoma (Davidson), Bamba

Subs – Owusu-Boakye, Horley, Dyer

REFEREE – Mr Barnett