Sittingbourne’s perfect home record was ended by a resolute and last-ditch Beckenham Town, with the home side dominating throughout but could not find a way through.

Beck’s skipper Rob Carter led by example and the outstanding Jack Holland stood firm as wave after red and black wave floundered on a blue wall that just wouldn’t be breached.  

The home side’s second period saw the frame of Beckenham’s goal struck twice, and on four separate occasions had efforts cleared off the line as Ade Azeez, Chris Arthur, Azeez again and Joe Boachie all had headers and shots that were scrambled clear at the last. 

A frustrating afternoon but the performance and the effort could not be questioned as Beckenham became just the second team to stop the Brickies score at Woodstock this season after Plymouth Parkway in the FA Cup. 

The opening half was tight with neither side had a genuine clear chance. Ryan Kingsford fired over for the home side whilst at the other end Sam Wood’s free kick nearly embarrassed home keeper Roco Rees as it bounced through the box. 

After the break, the home side turned up the tempo – Troy Howard raced clear down the right and his cross smacked against the bar with keeper Mitch Beeney nowhere! The home side kept coming and Chris Arthur went close with a header from a Richie Hamill corner before Ade Azeez had an effort cleared off the line. 

Azeez then beat Beeney to a Henry Sinai cross only for the home side to hack the ball to safety and as time ticked by, the pressure grew and grew on the visitors. But to Beckenham’s credit and with Carter and Holland outstanding they held firm – but only just!

The home side had a clear penalty appeal waved away after sub-Mitch May beat Beeney to the ball on the edge of the box, and as the ball ran free, Boachie was taken out by a defender only for referee Dempster to wave away the protests. 

Right at the death, Boachies rasped in a drive from the edge of the box which was yet again headed off the live and there was genuine disappointment around the Staxson Stadium at the final whistle such are the levels that the Brickies have set this season.

After all they are “only” unbeaten at home in the League at home and 31 unbeaten in all competitions… 

SITTINGBOURNE – Rees, Lukombo (Jones), Graham, Hamill, Smith, Arthur, Howard, El-Mogharbel (Beckford), Azeez (May), Kingsford (Beckford), Sinai (Boachie) 

BECKENHAM TOWN – Beeney, Douglas, Duru (Kurti), Holland, Wangoho, Carter, Hever, Wood, Theophanous, Burnett, Townsend (Zilli) 

Subs – Morris, Dudley, Agoro 

REFEREE – Mr. Dempster 

Pictures supplied by Paul Golding.