Sittingbourne eased into the third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2013 with a single goal win at Lordswood courtesy of a header from Henry Sinai just past the hour. 

The goal was all that the Brickies deserved as they had gone close three times in the opening half through Mitch May, although it was the home side that went closest as Matt Gethin beat the keeper to a cross but could not keep the ball down. 

The game’s only goal came from a free header from a corner after Codey Cosgrave’s shot has been blocked. May and Ryan Kingsford then went close to sealing the win for the visitors as both were denied by keeper Aaron Wharton-Lee, but the final whistle saw the Brickies into the penultimate qualifying round for the first time in eleven years. 

The Brickies had the better overall chances in a tight opening half with May going close on three occasions. Firstly, from a Richie Hammill corner, the big striker headed just wide; then keeper Wharton-Lee did really well to beat out a shot that saw Kingsford unable to convert as the rebound just wouldn’t sit right for the striker, and after Kingsford found May after a fine run, the Brickies top scorer hooked the ball over the bar. 

The home side did have their opportunities too – Callum Pecks teasing centre was just too far in front of an orange shirt, before they had the best chance of the half as Matt Gething beat keeper Dion-Curtis Henry to a free kick, but his header flashed just too high. 

After the break, Lords defender George Miles will have been disappointed not to test Henry with a free header at a corner before the visitors took the lead from a corner which was awarded after a flying block from Lords skipper Danny Keyte had denied Codey Cosgrave’s volley. Hammill’s corner was pinpoint, and Sinai stooped at the back post to comfortably head home. 

Keyte almost levelled with an angled shot from a free kick, but Henry was equal to it before Wharton then made a brilliant double late save denying Kingsford and May in quick succession to keep the score to one! 

But on this occasion Sinai’s goal was enough to take Sittingbourne into the Third Qualifying Round for the first time in eleven years and end Lordswood’s most successful FA Cup run in the Clubs history – the Medway club at least had a record attendance of 745 to take from a wonderful lunchtime in the sun! 

LORDSWOOD – Lee-Wharton, Miles, Cotton (Myles), Keyte, Trespaderne (Duncan), Peck (Fleming), Dawodu, Gething, Schafer, Embery (Jeffrey), Stroutts 

Subs – Currie, Carey, Green 

SITTINGBOURNE – Henry, Cosgrave, Lukombo, El-Mogharbel (Beckford), Smith, Arthur, Sinai, Hammill. May, Kingsford, Howard (Ofori) 

Subs – Torsiello, Farrell, Hawkins, Earle 

REFEREE – Mr. Sangowawa 

Attendance – 745  

Images courtesy of Paul Golding