This was a game of two halves as Sittingbourne were good in the first half whilst Bury were good in the second & in the end deserved to win so Bourne’s road to Wembley has finished.
Sittingbourne came into this game with confidence as it was stated they had started the season better than in previous years & in the 6th minute they nearly got the dream start they would have wanted when Conrad Lee’s corner found Jack Steventon 8 yards out & his header cannoned back into play off the crossbar, in the very next minute another Lee corner caused confusion in the box & eventually scrambled away for a corner.
Sittingbourne were controlling the game with Bury hanging in, in the 12th minute Tom Carsle ran from halfway to the edge of the area & his low cross to the back post just evaded Jordan Gallagher. The goal kick went straight to Gallagher & his first time shot from 20 yards just went past the post.
Three minutes later another chance came when Miles Cornwall 40 yards out crashed through two tackles & his curling shot from the edge of the area hit the post & came out to Ricky Gundry who controlled it & shot goal wards but was deflected for a corner & from the resulting corner to the back post found Gallagher whose shot was deflected onto the post for a corner. Bury had their first chance of the game in the 18th minute when Noel Aitkens crossed to the back post where Luke Reed was & he chested it down & was just about to shoot when Simon Overland came out & smothered it.
In the 23rd minute Bury took the lead against the run of play when Darcy De’ath took a long throw into the area which was flicked on for Ollie Canfer who headed in from 6 yards. Eight minutes later a Steventon long throw into the area found Stefan Wright but his header went straight into the arms of Neil O’Sullivan, a minute later Tom Brunt crossed to the edge of the area for Gallagher who chested it down & shot forcing Sullivan to palm it away.
In the 42nd minute a Lee corner found Steventon but his header from 8 yards flew over the bar then a minute later a cross into the area found Aitkens whose header was pushed around the post by Overland & from the resulting corner Overland made another great save from a header.
The second half saw Bury come out the quickest as in the 47th minute another De’ath long throw into the area found Canfer & his header was superbly pushed over the bar by Overland & from the resulting corner Debenham’s header was again superbly pushed away by Overland.
Six minutes later Overland came to Bourne’s rescue when he rushed out & beat Reed to the ball. Bury nearly increased their lead when Remi Garrett’s low curling cross found Canfer who wrapped his legs round it & saw it go agonisingly past the post. Sittingbourne had their first chance of the half in the 69th minute when Steventon’s long throw into the area found Cornwall but from 10 yards he blasted it over the bar.
Bury did increase their lead in the 78th minute when a free kick 5 yards from the by-line & on the right side saw Bradley Barber step up & curl his effort into the top left hand corner. Two minutes later it got worse for Sittingbourne when Steventon was sent off for a heavy challenge on Barber, this did seem harsh. Bury nearly made it three when Substitute Nick Ingram was put through by Barber but his shot went wide. The final whistle went & Bury were celebrating whilst there was bitter disappointment on the Sittingbourne side.
Sittingbourne:
- Overland 2. T.Brunt (77) 3. C.Lee 4. D.Rumbol 5. J.Richardson 6. J.Steventon 7. R.Gundry (66)
- S.Wright 9. J.Gallagher 10. M.Cornwall 11. T.Carsle (69)
Subs Used: 14. J.Wisson (66) 16. S.Ita (69) 12. H.Akhazzan (77)
Subs Not Used: 15. D.Tanner 17. S.Welch
Bookings: None
Sent Off: 6. J.Steventon
Bury Town:
- O’sullivan 2. T,Allen 3. J.Wigley 4. N.Aitkens 5. D.De’ath 6. T.Debenham (61) 76. R.Garrett (84)
- J.Kennedy 9. O.Canfer 10. B.Barber 11. L.Reed
Subs Used: 15. P.Weavers (61) 12. N.Ingram (84)
Sub Not Used: 14. R.Jolland
Bookings: 7. R.Garrett (35) 15. P.Weavers (90)
Referee: Mr N.West
Assistants: Mr L.Markwick & Mr J.Smith