A stunning free kick from Stefan Ilic was the icing on the cake of a stunning Sittingbourne win over Herne Bay at Winches Field. 

Ryan Maxwell’s side maintained their unbeaten away League record in some style as they left the unbeaten start to 2024 made by Steve Lovell’s side in tatters. 

It was a game worthy of Play Off chasers in a tight division as fifth hosted fourth under gloriously sunny skies in front of a bumper crowd of nearly 700. 

Both sides were quick out of the blocks and the pace of the game early on was extraordinary with the pace meaning that few clear chances were created although the home side did go close when Frankie Smith fired over after some good work by Gil Carvalho. 

The visitors went ahead just before the half hour. Chris Harris was bravely denied by keeper Harry Brooks and when the ball found Bagasan Graham on the edge of the box, the Brickies skipper hammered home his fifth goal of the season. 

The home side created a chance to level on the stroke of half time when Michael Salako battled through only to lose control at the vital moment. 

The second period began with Sittingbourne looking to assert their advantage and Mitch May almost doubled their lead as he was brilliantly denied by Brooks with the keeper excelling again as the corner found its way to Donvieve Jones and his effort was blocked by an alert Brooks. 

Just past the hour, a great through ball released May, and as he looked set to shoot, his run was ended by Dan Carrington. Referee Woods immediately showed the Bay defender a red card for his second yellow, and May picked himself up, dusted himself down, and hammered the ball into the bottom corner beyond a diving Brooks to register his eighth goal in his last six starts. 

The home side almost got an unexpected lifeline as a huge Brooks clearance almost caught out his opposite number Bobby Mason, but the Brickies keeper just about held on as his side went towards their eleventh clean sheet of the season. 

Seven minutes from time, the three points were guaranteed with a real contender for goal of the season. Harris and sub-Danny Parrish combined brilliantly and when Parrish was unceremoniously dumped to the ground by Liam Friend, Ilic stepped up and curled the 30-yard free kick up over the wall and into the top left-hand corner of the net beyond a despairing Brooks. 

The final whistle was greeted by celebration from the travelling support who had been in good voice all afternoon as their heroes moved five points clear of their hosts (who slipped to seventh) and remain just two points behind third placed Lancing with two games in hand, the first of which is midweek at East Grinstead 

HERNE BAY – Brooks, Pont, Smith, Carrington, Friend, Walder, Kamara, Carvalho, Burnett (Osinfolarin), Salako, Rowland.

Subs not used – Whitton, Hanfrey, Dawodu, Wright.

SITTINGBOURNE – Mason, Jones, Graham, Woodward (Ilic), Tyrie (Hope), Turner, Arthur, Theobalds, Harris, Ayman (Parrish), May.

Subs not used – John, Snell.

REFEREE – Mr Woods 

Pictures supplied by Paul Golding.