South Park took all three points with a goal in each half to get Barry Crimmen’s time as temporary manager of Sittingbourne off to a bad start.

This was Crimmen’s first game in charge after Matt Wyatt resigned and left during the week, the Brickies’ caretaker manager made just one change from the Sittingbourne side who won 2-1 at Walton And Hersham in their last league match the previous weekend; this was made in midfield with Ollie Brown taking the place of Dan Keyte.

Despite knowing that their manager was leaving for two weeks, Sittingbourne have had an impressive start to the season, before the game they sat in fourth in the Ryman Division One South whereas their opponents, who had been newly promoted also had a good start to the season and they began the day in 11^th.

South Park began the game and they had an early chance to go ahead, David Smith had enough time on the right wing to put a cross towards the far post but Joe Jackson’s looping header was put over.

Sittingbourne soon came back into the game but it took a piece of luck for them to get their first opportunity of the game, South Park’s Daniel Guscott was dispossessed in defence by David Abe, the attacker took the ball into ta good position to shoot but Guscott did brilliantly to get back and block Abe’s shot towards the near post.

Another mistake from South Park’s defence gave the hosts another chance to open the scoring after Jack Stafford was unable to control his header back to James Wastell whose heavy touch allowed the ball to come to Stephen Okoh but Sittingbourne were unable to convert the opportunity.

South Park scored first when, after 37 minutes, a cross from the right came out to the edge of the area, Chris Smith did well to control the ball before cutting inside an unleashing a shot, however the shot was deflected into the path of Joe Jackson who was able to convert his effort past Adam Molloy to give his team the lead before half time.

The first half started slowly due to heavy rain which fell in the first half, the pitch didn’t allow the ball to bounce which forced both teams into attempting long passes towards their respective strikers.

It took eleven second half minutes for South Park to double their lead and make the hosts’ task even more difficult; Kieran Lavery received the ball from the right wing before turning and hitting a shot straight at Adam Molloy, however, the ball skimmed off the surface of the pitch and Molloy was only able to parry the ball into the path of Joe Jackson, the striker’s shot was deflected as it trickled towards goal, sending Molloy the wrong way.

After their second goal South Park continued to apply pressure to Sittingbourne’s Midfield, forcing them back into their own half ad slowing the game down.

As Sittingbourne attempted to get back into the game their full backs began to push forward, within minutes Tom Brunt had two chanced from outside the penalty area but he was unable to convert either of them.

Late in the game both teams got more desperate to force the result they needed, Sittingbourne continued to push forward whilst South Park were doing well to force them back, despite this, frustration was building within both dugouts and with five minutes remaining South Park manager Joe McElligott was sent back to the changing rooms by the referee Mr Smart after continuously challenging the Maidstone official’s decisions.

Despite only having their assistant manager for the final moments of the game, South Park were able to keep calm and ensue that they returned to Sussex with all three points.

Despite being beaten at home for the third time this season, Sittingbourne remain in fourth place in the Ryman League Division One South whilst South Park rise four places in the table to seventh. The Brickies will play next on Tuesday as first placed Burgess Hill Town will travel to Kent with hopes of extending their unbeaten start to the season.

Sittingbourne: Molloy, Brunt, Richardson, Harden, Crimmen, Brown (Gallagher), Akhazzan (Miller), Milham, Nwoko, Okoh (Baverstock), Abe

Booked: Brown

Subs not used: Kayembe, Keyte

South Park: Wastell, David, Hatfield, Stafford, Guscott, Ayling, D. Smith, M. Smith (C. Smith), Lavery, Watts (Higgins), Jackson

Booked: Lavery, Higgins

Sub not used: Ward

Attendance: 109