Luke Girt’s well taken goal just after the half hour, later cancelled out, earned The Brickies a draw at home to promotion hopefuls Guernsey on a glorious sunny Saturday at Woodstock Park.

After an uneventful opening quarter of an hour with each side vying for possession to create openings, Guernsey create the first clear cut opportunity when a corner on the visitors right hand side was half cleared to the edge of the box where Tom De La Mare found Ryan Zico Black in space 6yds out only to see his shot crash against The Brickies left hand post.

On 18mins The Brickies’ Sam Spencer found space for a shot at goal from just inside the right edge of the penalty area but his weak effort was easily held by visiting ‘keeper Tardiff.

Guernsey then mustered two opportunities shortly afterwards but efforts by Luke Winch and Ross Allen were easily saved and watched wide by ‘keeper Adam Molloy respectively.

The Brickies then took the lead on 31mins. Girt controlling a loose ball 30yds out, played a 1-2 with Ryan Golding. His attacking run took him past 3 defenders into the penalty area, calmly placing the ball underneath the onrushing Tardiff into an unguarded goal.

Five minutes before the break Guernsey pegged the home side back to level the score. Allen, 8yds out to the left side and his back to goal, quickly turned on the spot and struck low into the back of the net. The Brickies were unhappy that in the lead up to the goal the referee overruled an assistant referee’s decision, instead giving it in favour of the visitors.

Shortly after on 42mins, The Brickies kept out the visitors after a good move down the home side’s left hand side. After good work by David Rihoy and Mark McGrath, The Brickies’ George Crimmen cleared the danger well, heading away 6yds out under pressure from Zico Black.

In second half injury time the aware Molloy kept the score all square, saving a low shot by Allen and reacting quickest to the loose ball to deny the onrushing Rhys Jordan a chance at goal.

Straight from the second half kick of Golding chased a ball over the top but Tardiff beat the striker to the ball to collect.

Five minutes later captain Nick Davis missed a glorious opportunity to give the home side the lead. Davis, unmarked from 6yds out, met Hicham Akzazzan’s free kick well only to see his bullet header go narrowly over the bar.

Just before the hour mark Tom Loynes got in a low shot from the left edge of the penalty area which Tardiff cold only parry wide.

On the hour mark Guernsey’s Rihoy’s had two chances n quick succession to give the visitors the lead. First, a half volley from the right edge of the penalty area was deflected wide – Rihoy then headed wide the resulting corner from close range.

On 68mins the busy Loynes on the left took on Guernsey’s defence. Taking the ball from halfway he cut inside to the edge of the penalty area only to see his shot go straight into the arms of Tardiff.

On 71mins saw a major let off for the visitors. A good ball in from the right side into the Guernsey box appeared to strike the arm of the visitors’ Matt Loaring however the referee was unmoved waving away The Brickies’ claims for a penalty.

On 74mins substitute Okoh, who had injected pace into the game, saw his snapshot from the edge of the area easily saved by Tardiff after he had initially pressed the visitors defence well to win the ball to create the opportunity.

Guernsey pressed for a winner in the final ten minutes. On 82, Mark McGrath found himself through on goal after a long ball behind The Brickies’ defence only to shoot straight at Molloy and with only two minutes remaining Molloy reacted well to dive low to his left, pushing a shot from Allen wide of goal and away from danger.

 

Sittingbourne: Molloy, Brunt, Richardson, Davis ©, Crimmen, Dunsdon, Akhazzan (Okoh, 72), Girt, Golding, Spencer (Ulph, 52), Loynes (Beale, 83)

Subs Not Used: Mansary, Galagher

Goal: Girt 31

Guernsey: Tardiff, De La Mare, Loring, Geall, Isabelle (Steel, 17), Jordan (Creed, 78), Rihoy, Zico Black, McGrath, Allen, Winch

Subs Not Used: Le Prevost

Goal: Allen 40

Referee: Mr I Bentley

Assistants: Mr S Idris, Mr A Stacchini

Att; 196