For the third straight game, Chatham Town’s promotion push hit the home buffers as the Sittingbourne revival continued as Ryan Maxwell’s side came from behind to deny Kevin Hakes’ men the points to keep them on the heels of leaders Ramsgate.

The home side led early through Simon Coopers early unopposed header, but the Brickies improved after the break, equalising after the breakthrough Joe Ellul before being twice denied the three points late on by home debutant keeper Nathan Harvey.

The home side took the lead from the game’s first corner as Cooper rose unopposed to power a header past Harley Earle for his third goal of the season – his first in the League – to give the Chats the lead.

It was a lead that they would have doubled but for a brilliant combined block from Earle and Joe Tyrie from a swift break just before the half hour.

The home side had much the better of the first half with the closest the Brickies coming just before the break as Donvieve Jones sliced wide whilst perhaps Correy Davidson was better placed on the edge of the box.

The second half began in similar fashion with Earle making a great block to deny Prince Domafriyie as he burst in from the wing. It was a block that finally seemed to galvanise the Brickies and soon after they levelled as Harvey got horribly lost at a corner and Ellul bundled the ball in at the far post.

Davidson brought a fine save out of Harvey volleying Jones’ deep cross and the looping ball seemed to be beyond the Charlton loanee but the keeper at full stretch palmed the ball behind.

The game was end to end now – Chats substitute Matt Bodkin almost caught Earle out with a vicious in swinging cross whilst a scrambling Brickies keeper bravely denied Dan Bradshaw.

The Brickies had their own chances – which were arguably clearer cut opportunities as a Davidson driven centre was sliced inches past his own post by Reece Butler before Harvey pulled out the save of the game to deny Aaron Eyoma a late winner.

Just as at Woodstock, honours even with the Chats dropping points for the third game running after their perfect twelve out of twelve start; this points drops the home side four points behind leaders Ramsgate whilst the Brickies take another point closer to safety as their recent revival continues with just a single defeat in five games in the month of February.

CHATHAM TOWN – Harvey, Orji, Cooper, Robins, Butler, Domafriyie (Thompson), Bradshaw, Taylor (Bodkin), Sanogo, Sotoyinbo, Bennett (Saraiva)

Subs – Beckwith, Drury

SITTINGBOURNE – Earle, Jones , Davidson (Graham), Ellul, Tyrie, Pont, Follea (Dome-Bemwin), Warren, Burgin, Eyoma, May (Bamba)

Subs – Kileba

REFEREE – Mr McDonald

Picture supplied by Allen Hollands.