Three Bridges won the game in the 89^th minute despite playing with ten men for 26 minutes, while Sittingbourne will know that they were under par today.

The game was dominated by both defences as both sets of forwards looked unlikely to score & it was a defender who did get the only goal of the game.

The game started slowly with both teams sussing each other out, in the 10^th minute Ibby Akanbi in the area received the ball but his shot hit the side netting.

Two minutes later a cross from the right forced Patrick Lee to push over the bar. Sittingbourne had their first chance in the 15^th minute when a long ball was chested down by Ira Jackson & he cut inside & from 20 yards his shot went over the bar, five minutes later Lewis Chambers 20 yards out tried his luck & James Shaw saved it at the second attempt.

In the 25^th minute a Reiss Crimmen corner to the near post saw Bola Dawodu’s flicked header go over the bar. The last chance of the half came in the 30^th minute when a long throw into the area was flicked on & Dawodu’s header was cleared off the line for a corner.

The second half started quickly for Bridges as Amaraldo Glloga weaved his way into the area & his shot from 15 yards was deflected for a corner.

Ten minutes later Bourne had their first chance of the half when Jackson on the right cut in on goal but from 12 yards his shot went wide. Two minutes later Lee saved Bourne when Liam Collins played Glloga into the area & his curling shot was punched clear.

In the 62^nd minute a corner to the near post found Jackson but his header was pushed around the post by James Shaw, and then a contentious decision came in the 64^th minute when Collins appeared to make a high challenge on Tom Loynes & was sent off by the referee, it did seem a little harsh.

Sittingbourne now had the mad advantage could they get the goal to win the game, the answer was no & Three Bridges actually looked like the side with eleven men.

In the 81^st minute Connor French on the right wing cut inside & passed into the path of Akanbi & from 8 yards his shot was saved by the onrushing Lee, a minute later the only chance since having the man advantage came when a long throw into the area was headed goal wards by Nathan Elder but Shaw saved easily, the in the 88th a long ball out on the right saw Akanbi go towards goal & with Lee slipping whilst getting back his low cross shot was saved by Lee but in the very next minute Bridges scored to win the game, a corner into the 6 yard box saw Jensen Grant’s bullet header hit the back of the net.

The game then petered out & Sittingbourne cannot have any qualms about the result, they did not take advantage of the one man difference whilst Three Bridges can say they battled hard & deserved the victory.

 

SITTINGBOURNE:

1. LEE  2. C.WEBBER    3. R.CRIMMEN  4. L.CHAMBERS (85)     5. J.DENNY   6. B.FITCHETT   7. I.JACKSON 8. B.DAWODU (80)      9. D.SMITH   10. T.FAGG (45)  11. T.LOYNES

SUBS USED: 14. H.HATFULL (45)  16. N.ELDER (80)   12. J.DORLING (85)

SUBS NOT USED:  15. C.OTUADINMA   19. M.FUNNELL

BOOKINGS:  8. B.DAWODU (21)  14. H.HATFULL (49)  3. R.CRIMMEN (77)

 

THREE BRIDGES:

1. SHAW 3. N.SIMPSON  5. O.OLUWATIMILEHIN  7. L.COLLINS  8. J.GRANT  10. B.O’NEAL  11. I.AKANI (90+1)    12. O.FOLKES (74) 17. A.GLLOGA (68) 18. A.DOUGLAS   20 J.TENNENT

SUBS USED:  6. F.ODESHINA (68)  9. C.FRENCH (74)  16. K.ADJEI (90+1)

SUBS NOT USED:  15. B.GREEN  17. A.CLARK

BOOKINGS:  10. B.O’NEAL (45+2)

SENT OFF: 7. L.COLLINS (64)

 

REFEREE:  Mr J.STOKES

ASSISTANTS: Mr D.JOSEPH & Mr A SIMMONDS

ATTENDANCE: 132