Sittingbourne bowed out of the FA Cup against lower league opposition but hopefully learned a lesson that you must convert your chances or you will lose.

They had the lion’s share of possession but Pagham were resilient & showed why they have had such a great start to the season.

The game saw Sittingbourne create the first chance when David Smith on the edge of the area saw his snapshot saved by James Binfield, two minutes later in a counter attack Callum Overton on the edge of the area try his luck but it went wide.

In the 11^th minute a Kane Phillip cross to the back post saw Bola Dowadu stretching for it & his shot went into the side netting. Two minutes later a glorious chance came when a free kick into the back post saw Ben Gorham head back into the 6 yard box where Dowadu was & his overhead kick went over the bar, in the very next minute Binfield’s clearance went straight to Tyrone Guthrie who ran forward & his a tremendous shot from 25 yards but it beat Binfield & came back of the bar.

In the 16^th minute in a rare attack Scott Murfin saw his shot from 20 yards parried away by Darren Hawkes. Another half chance came in the 26^th minute when Joe Booker’s back header was chased down by Kane Rowland & as he attempted to stretch for it Binfield came out & deflected for a corner off his chest.

Rowland made a chance for himself in the 35^th minute when 40 yards out he raced forward beating a defender but from 25 yards his shot was weak & wide & the last chance of the half came in the 38^th minute when Murfin’s free kick whistled past the post.

The second took a while to get going but in the 62^nd minute Jide Okimeji received the ball on the right side of the area his chip was superbly tipped over the bar by Binfield.

Eight minutes later came a contentious decision as substitute Terrell Lewis on the right wing cut inside & from 15 yards saw his shot beat Hawkes & seemed to come back into play via the station & the officials did not give a goal which incensed the Pagham Players.

In the 81^st minute the ball came across the area for Phillip whose snap shot went just wide but in the next minute Pagham scored when a counter attack on the left side saw a cross to the back post where Lewis was & this time from 8 yards he shot into the net, they would say that they deserved that.

In the 85^th minute Jake Hawker received his second booking & was sent off could this be the salvation for Bourne. In the 89^th minute a corner into the 6 yard box was headed goal wards but chested off the line & then in the 90^th+3 minutes Phillip’s shot was parried away by Binfield.

The final whistle went & the Pagham players & supporters went mad & they could enjoy their journey back to Sussex whilst Sittingbourne could now concentrate on the league.

 

SITTINGBOURNE:

1. HAWKES           2. C.WEBBER      3. O.BROWN         4. J.OKIMEJI    5. B.GORHAM      6. L.BALL (86)   7. K.PHILLIP   8. T.GUTHRIE   9. K.ROWLAND     10. B.DOWADU         11. D.SMITH (72)

SUBS USED:  16. G.CARVALHO (72)   14. L.ALLAN (86)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. D.ADEKOYA   15. G.BLAKE  17. H.BROOKS   18. N.DAVIS

BOOKINGS:  11. D.SMITH (21)  5. B.GORHAM (37)  7. K.PHILLIP (72)  10. B.DOWADU (73)  4. J.OKIMEJI (89)

 

PAGHAM:

1. BINFIELD  2. J.HAWKER       3. D.WOOLERS    4.  R.DAVIDSON    5. J.BOOKER    6. J.HORNCASTLE    7.  L.ROWLATT   8. A.CHICK (65)   9. C.OVERTON      10. S.MURFIN (86)       11. G.CODY

SUBS USED: 14. T.LEWIS (65)  17. G.BINGHAM (86)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. J.VAN DRIEL  15. D.CROUCH  16. J.IRISH

BOOKINGS:   7. L.ROWLATT (30)  2. J.HAWKER (70,85)

SENT OFF:   J.HAWKER (2 BOOKINGS)

 

REFEREE: Mr D.HARRISON

ASSISTANTS: Mr D.BARUCH  & Mr R.JOSS

ATTENDANCE: 152