Honours even in the Sittingbourne sunshine as two local rivals locked horns for the first time in a while in a fierce and at times hugely enjoyable goal-less draw.

Sittingbourne over the course of the ninety minutes had the better chances but Chatham’s were the clearer ones and so a point apiece was probably just about right.

First half the visitors hit the bar with a deflected Jack Evans shot and only Dan Bradshaw will know how he hit the side netting with the goal at his mercy while at the other end, Donvieve Jones was denied his fourth goal of the season by a very late flag!

After the break, it was the two keepers who earned the plaudits as both Matt Cafer and Ben Bridle-Card pulled off stunning saves to keep the score line blank and effectively in the final analysis earn their respective sides a point each.

Evans chance came early on with number of the near four hundred crowd were still taking their places – the Chats skipper saw his drive deflect over a stranded Cafer and onto the top of the bar.

The Brickies thought they had the lead on 15 minutes as the impressive debut making Mario Quiassaca was well denied by Bridle-Card and Jones drove home only to be denied by the flag.

On the stroke of half time, a defensive mix up fell to Bradshaw, but his aim was off as with the goal at his mercy he hit the side netting.

Already forced into a first half change when Kieron McCann was replaced by Jason Banton, Nick Davis was forced to make a second change as the second period began as AJ Dythe was replaced after being unwell.

But just as in the first half, it was the visitors who threatened to take the lead, but they reckoned without the Gibraltaran keeper pulled off two remarkable saves to deny Ike Orji and Danny Kedwell respectively before the home side were denied as Bridle-Card bravely denied Quiassaca and then brilliantly turned aside Jones’ drive.

Honours even and just about right as the points are shared.

SITTINGBOURE – Cafer, Jones, Dythe (Addai), Gorham, Pont, Puemo, Warren, Osman (Chambers), McCann (Banton), Graham, Quiassaca

Subs – Deakin, Dasofunjo

CHATHAM TOWN – Bridle-Card, Orji, Cooper, Butler, Ogunseye (Robbins), Evans, Bradshaw, Saraiva, Kedwell, Oloyede (Gilbert), Domafriye (Bodkin)

Subs – Beckwith, Irefin

REFEREE – Mr Briers