More than thirty years in the waiting, it took just a single Donvieve Jones goal to give Sittingbourne bragging rights in the first “El Swalico” in a generation as Nick Davis’ side inflicted Sheppey United’s first home League defeat in almost three years.

Jones was on hand at the back post to brilliantly covert AJ Dythe’s left wing centre to control and drill the ball past a helpless Aidan Prall in the Sheppey net sending the Brickies fans behind the goal into wild scenes of celebration.

And to be fair, the home side will have been disappointed that they couldn’t get back into the game as the Brickies back line excelled and frustrated everything Sheppey could throw at the visitors – even when tempers boiled over and player-boss Jack Midson was shown two yellow cards very soon after coming on for the final five minutes.

As over a thousand packed into Holm Park, the opening half was as cagey and as close as you would have expected – almost with both sides wary of not making the mistake that would cost their side…

Indeed, the half only sprung into life when Lewis Chambers was “only” booked for an overzealous challenge just before the break which brought “interest” from many of the other players and set the tone for the second half which became increasingly scrappy!

The game’s only goal arrived early in the second half as the ball was worked side to Dythe who whipped in a terrific ball towards Harry Harding.

Harding was aware of Jones arriving behind him and the full back collected the ball in his stride before hammering into the Sheppey net.

The visitors were in the ascendancy now and Harding almost provided the second as his expert lay off found Danny Taylor whose first time drive cannoned back of the low stand roof immediately behind Prall’s goal.

The Sheppey side were becoming more and more strung out – young Jacob Lambert was trying to pull the strings in midfield but he was up against Matty Warren and Chambers who both played superbly and on the rare occasions the home side did threaten, the Brickies three central defenders – Ben Gorham, Jerry Puemo and Harrison Pont – snuffed out all threat with the battle between Puemo and Danny Leonard in particular something to behold.

Not even the late introduction of Sheppey player boss Jack Midson could rally the home side – indeed Midson received two yellow cards – the second for a clash that left Matt Cafer in a heap on the ground – in the space of three minutes in front of referee Dempster to completely compound the home side’s afternoon as their proud three year long unbeaten home League record disappeared back over the King’s Ferry bridge back to Sittingbourne as the Brickies made it two derby wins in 48 hours across the Bank Holiday weekend.

SHEPPEY UNITED – Prall, Birch, Tenyue, Majoyegbe, Sains, Hamill, Leonard, Gillies (Midson), Grant (Mfula), Lambert, Hagan (Aibangbee)

Subs – Roberts, Parsons

SITTINGBOURNE – Cafer, Jones, Chambers, Gorham, Harding, Warren, Puemo, Pont, Dythe (McKenzie), Dasofunjo, Taylor

Subs – Whitton, Horley, Rogers

REFEREE – Mr Dempster