The FA Cup this year has more prize money available than ever before and for the first time at this stage of the competition the losers also get some cash which will at least pay the expenses, so this competition can be a lifeline at Sittingbourne’s level.
Sittingbourne’s recent record in this competition is poor with them going out to lower level teams twice in the years 2015 to 2018.
Last year they went out to 1-0 at home to Gosport Borough, in the first qualifying round. The year before that they went out to Pagham in a replay at Pagham. In fact the last time they got beyond the first Qualifying Round was September 2015, defeating Metropolitan Police 1-0 in a replay before again losing to a lower league team in Hoddesdon Town.
Sittingbourne and Uxbridge play at the same level so at least there wasn’t going to be a “giant killing”, and amazingly they have identical playing records after the first two games of the season, so a draw looked pretty much on the cards.
Sittingbourne were without the injured Chris Webber and also Roman Campbell who was serving a suspension for the red card received against Cray Valley PM, but wasn’t allowed to play anyway as Gillingham didn’t want him cup tied.
The more likely winners in the first half were Uxbridge who caused Sittingbourne plenty of problems from both flanks with crosses. Lex Allan, along with the whole defence, were superb though blocking most of the dangerous shots, and when they got through Tom Benham in goal was a steady pair of hands.
The closest Uxbridge actually came to scoring came on 32 minutes when the dangerous Olie Harris fired straight at Tom Benham, who just managed to block the ball.
Sittingbourne changed their shape for the second half and got onto the front foot quickly. Just four minutes into the half Shaun Brown went steaming down the left and fired the ball from an acute angle past Tyler Tobin in the Uxbridge goal and it nestled in the far corner of the net to give the Brickies the lead.
It was a different game now and the Uxbridge threat down the wings diminished as Sittingbourne took control.
Johan Caney-Brown came on for Chris Barnard and he was instrumental in Sittingbourne extending their league when on 77 minutes the ball was whizzed into the Uxbridge area where Caney-Bryan was lurking and as he turned he was brought down. The referee immediately whistled for a penalty, but in the meantime the ball had been headed into the Uxbridge net. Caney-Bryan took the kick himself and justice was done when he curled his kick into the left hand corner of the net and doubled the lead.
Johan Caney-Brown came on for Chris Barnard and he was instrumental in Sittingbourne extending their league when on 77 minutes the ball was whizzed into the Uxbridge area where Caney-Bryan was lurking and as he turned he was brought down.
The referee immediately whistled for a penalty, but in the meantime the ball had been headed into the Uxbridge net. Caney-Bryan took the kick himself and justice was done when he curled his kick into the left hand corner of the net and doubled the lead.
The crowd must have expected a tense last 13 minutes but in truth Uxbridge never bothered Sittingbourne again and it’s the Brickies who go into the hat for Tuesday’s 1st Qualifying round draw.
Sittingbourne: Tom Benham, Lewis West, Jason Fregene, Lewis Chambers, Cory Walters-Wright (C), Lex Allan, Chris Barnard (Johan Caney-Bryan 70 mins), Tyrone Guthrie, Shaun Brown, Tom Fagg (Liam Middleton 63 mins Yellow Card), Enoch Adjei.
Subs Not used: Caleb Roberts, Abdel N’Daw, Joshua Oliver, Festus Lori.
Goal(s): Brown 49 mins, Caney-Bryan 77 mins (pen)
Uxbridge: Tyler Tobin, Remell Clarke (Adam Morris 63 mins), David Thomas (C), Callum Duffey (Yellow Card), Elliott Poley, Alan Hedley, Jack Beadle (Michael Kalu 70 mins), Alex Paine, Mark Bidmead, Olie Harris, Mahlodo Martin.
Subs not used: Mark Goodman, Daniel Nielsen, Paul McCarthy.
Referee: Mr Alexander Bradley (Brighton)
Assistants: Mr David Ellis (Brighton), Mr Duncan Brooker (Brighton)
Attendance: 159