Sittingbourne’s annual overseas trip to Guernsey ended in a defeat at Guernsey’s Footes Lane ground.

It was not a bad performance by the Brickies and if it hadn’t been for two moments of misfortune they may well have got something out of the game.

The first misfortune came with just nine minutes on the clock when a surging run inside the Brickies area ended when Nigel Neita couldn’t get his foot out of the way quick enough and he tripped a Guernsey player and a penalty was given.

The Green Lions Robbie Legg gave Jordan Perrin in the Brickies goal no chance to put Guernsey one goal to the good. The second incident was “just one of those things” as an attempted Brickies clearance bounced off another Brickies player and the ball went straight to an unmarked Matt Loaring who fired past Perrin.

Between the two goals a lovely move between the returning Roman Campbell and Johan Caney-Bryan ended in Caney-Bryan scoring for the Brickies just three minutes after Guernsey’s opening goal and all looked good for Sittingbourne then.

Prolific scorer Ross Allen was missing for Guernsey, but William Fazakerley came back in the squad after recovering from injury and he came on as a substitute and scored Guernsey’s third goal.

Roman Campbell  made his first start since re-joining just the day before and he joined fellow new boys Ainsley Everett and Nigel Neita up front, a combination that will need time to bed in.

Jason Fregene was outstanding in defence before he had to be carried off on 80 minutes with a nasty looking injury to his knee that meant that the Brickies defender had to be wheel chaired through the airport on the way home, and it looks certain that he will miss Tuesday night’s game at Woodstock at home to Ashford.

The Guernsey crowd, who make such a tremendous atmosphere at Footes Lane,  gave Jason a tremendous reception as he was taken to the dressing rooms.

The Green lions were out of the blocks quickly and a good run from his own half by Frank Tobin, ended in a shot that was well saved by Perrin, but two minutes later a Chris Webber free kick whistled across the Guernsey goal-line, the ball just being missed by the onrushing Campbell and Caney-Bryan.

Guernsey took the lead on nine minutes from the penalty spot and then Caney-Bryan came up with the equaliser and then came that rebound on 25 minutes that proved fortuitous for Guernsey. 

Campbell had an effort on the half hour that took two attempts by Callum Stanton in the Guernsey goal to grab the ball.

Then followed a good spell by Sittingbourne, in the 36th minute there was frantic action round the Guernsey goal as the Brickies won three corners in a row but it was an anti-climax after Lex Allan headed the ball wide following the third corner.

The end of the half saw a chance apiece to both sides, on 40 minutes Carlos Canha, for Guernsey, strode away and fired in a shot that Perrin blocked. At the other end Caney-Bryan and Campbell again combined but this time Harry Tobin made a last-ditch challenge to foil the Brickies.

Sittingbourne had the first effort of the second half when Everett fired over the Guernsey bar.

Again Sittingbourne appeared to be on the front foot and substitute Chris Barnard got in a shot that the keeper failed to hold but the ball was cleared.

Then came the killer blow which really came out of the blue as Fazerkerley, in heaps of space, fired in cracking shot that Perrin could do nothing about, and it was three. Guernsey then hit a Brickies post when an attempted clearance went wrong.

In truth Guernsey then saw out the remainder of the game with little fuss to win their third game in a row, something they havent done in three years.

Guernsey: Callum Stanton, Tyler McKan, Jamie Dodd, Harry Tobin, Tom Strawbridge, Tom De La Hare, Liam Mahon, Carlos Canha, Robbie Legg, Frank Tobin, Matthew Loaring

Subs not used: Steve Renouf, Will Fazakerley, Thomas Dodds, Sebastion Skillen

Sittingbourne: Jordam Perrin, Chris Webber, Jason Fregen, Cameron Brodie, Lex Allan, Cory Walters-Wright, Kane Phillip, Nigel Keita, Roman Campbell, Johan Caney-Bryan, Ainsley Everett

Subs not used: Ben Fitchett, William Holder, Chris Barnard, Sam Stace.

Referee: Russel Jones

Attendance: 780