As Storm Bert battered Swale, Sittingbourne’s imperious home form shown through as Sevenoaks Town were the latest side to leave the Staxson Stadium, Woodstock with nothing. 

First half strikes in the wind and the rain from Donvieve Jones and Ryan Kingsford gave the Brickies a first half lead that the visitors seldom threatened, and Troy Howards stoppage time goal was just the cherry on the cake from another great performance from the home side on the day that boss Ryan Maxwell received his Manager of the Month award for the team’s efforts in October. 

The weather conditions played a bit part in the game and as such the first real chance of the game saw Richie Hamill’s free kick tipped over well by Jordan Perrin. But from the resulting corner, the Brickies took the lead. Hamill’s vicious in swinging corner caused bedlam in the Sevenoaks box as Jones rose highest at the back post to head home on the day that his one hundredth appearance for the Brickies was marked with a presentation. 

Joe Boachie saw a shot well saved by Perrin before the Sevenoaks keeper needed lengthy treatment after Howard surged through to beat the keeper with a low shot that cannoned back off the right post. 

Perrin then did very well to keep out a shot from the rampaging Henry Lukombo before the Brickies doubled the lead two minutes from half time. Great play from Henry Sinai and Kingsford down the left saw the ball slipped into Kingsford who magnificently hammered the ball beyond Perrin into the bottom corner. 

As the second period progressed, it was almost a case of the sides going through the motions and although the visitors didn’t really create a chance worthy of the name. 

Sittingbourne though could have had a third as Howard’s low skidding centre was inches out of the reach of a sliding Kingsford but not a sliding Joe Boachie who could convert as he slid past the back post. 

The game seemed to have ended with a two-goal home win, but in stoppage time, Kingsford did well to win the ball back in half way before threading a glorious ball through to Howard, whose pace took him clear, and he beat Perrin at his left post to seal a very satisfactory home performance and three more points. 

SITTINGBOURNE – Earle, Jones (Steventon), Lukombo (Graham), Hamill, Smith, Arthur, Howard, Cosgrave, Boachie (Martin), Kingsford, Sinai (Bessey-Saldanha) 

Sub – Beckford 

SEVENOAKS TOWN – Perrin, Splatt, Futa, Bath, Howlett-Mundle, McLeod, Aibangbee (Sarpong), Wisson (Eruotor), Mfula, Jeffrey, Babalola (Kileba) 

Sub – Northwood  

REFEREE – Mr. Markwick 

Images courtesy of Paul Golding