An intriguing local derby on Bank Holiday Monday where two evenly matched sides couldn’t be separated at Winches Field as Herne Bay and Sittingbourne shared two goals and the points.

Toby Bancroft fired the Brickies into a first minute lead with a fizzing low drive whilst Kieron Campbell gloriously levelled for the Bay on the stroke of half time with a curling effort into the top corner.

A fascinating second half saw the visitors come closest to sealing the win – Ahmed Abdulla with an effort that was brilliantly cleared off the line by Jack Parter the closest either side became as the Sittingbourne rear guard – marshalled magnificently by Marvin Hamilton-Omole and Harrison Pont – repelled everything the home side could muster.

It really was the dream start for the visitors as Bancroft followed up his first goal for the club in the New Year’s Day win over Sevenoaks by firing low past Jordan Perrin with barely ninety seconds on the smart new clock at Winches Field!

Adem Ramadan went close for the home side to level, before Harry Brooks produced a fantastic block to deny Campbell as it seemed the Herne Bay man had rounded the Sittingbourne stopper. Campbell was to have the last laugh however as on the stroke of half time, he collected the ball on the left, cut inside and unleashed a brilliant curling effort into the top left-hand corner that left Brooks grasping thin air!

With Sam Okoye forced off at half time, Sittingbourne were forced into a tactical change with Sam Flisher fitting in brilliantly at full back and to an extent nullifying Campbell’s effectiveness down the flank.

Ramadan thought he had the second period’s first chance but was denied by a brilliant Pont challenge and as things began to get feisty, the Herne Bay bench were lectured by referee McKay for their vocal objections to some of the officials’ decisions.

Dan Johnson could stretch enough to reach Ramadan’s centre whilst Duane Ofori-Acheampong was denied well by Perrin at the other end as the big striker burst through, before Mr McKay showed just how local derbies should be refereed as Bode Anidugbe and Abdulla clashed leading to “handbags at ten paces” and bodies throwing themselves to the floor.

The crowd bayed for red, but the official after consulting with an assistant only cautioned Anidugbe and Abdulla and the game continued – and it has to be said calmed down as well as it had neared boiling point!

As the game wore on, Sittingbourne looked the more likely to take the points as Alex Flisher sent Perrin back pedalling to palm over a cross-cum-shot and Acheampong flashed a shot wide before Parter came to Herne Bay’s rescue with a terrific goal-line clearance.

Taylor Fisher did amazingly well down the left battling to the line and his ball in fell to Abdulla who beat Perrin with an angled shot, but not Parter who appeared from nowhere to clear the ball off the line.

As the ninety minutes elapsed, Aaron Millbank could have won the game for the home side with a fierce drive that whistled across the face of the Sittingbourne goal and into the crowd. 

Honours even and a point that keeps both sides happy and unbeaten in the New Year…

HERNE BAY – Perrin, Kpohomouh, Parter, Harvey, Johnson, Anidugbe, Ramadan (Phillip), Carrington, Ansah, Millbank, Campbell

Subs – Smith, McFarlane, Hanley, Schafer

SITTINGBOURNE – Brooks, Okoye (Smith), Fisher, Sam Flisher (Alex Flisher), Hamilton-Omole, Pont, Christian-Law, Rowland (Stannard), Abdulla, Ofori-Acheampong, Bancroft

Subs – Monger 

REFEREE – Mr McKay