When a new manager comes in it usually results in a better performance & a victory but for Aslan Odev it was the opposite but in bizarre fashion.

The game took a while to get going but in the 13^th minute a quick throw from Tom Loynes put Kane Rowland clear & he raced into the area got to the by-line & saw his low cross shot evade everyone & go out for a throw in on the far side.

Eight minutes later lady luck was not with Sittingbourne as Chris Webber on the right crossed into the area where Rowland saw his powerful header come back of the cross bar with Dan Smith beaten.  Two minutes later & Sittingbourne took the lead when a ball forward to Loynes who held it up before passing inside the full back for Rowland who tucked the ball under Smith.

In the 25^th minute East Grinstead had their first half chance when Marcus Elliott on the right saw his low cross come out to Will Hoare & his shot from 18 yards flew past the post. Two minutes later & East Grinstead were level but what a goal to concede, the ball was played forward but to no one Harry Brooks came out of his area & in clearing saw it hit Webber & rebound to Tm Cook who from 20 yards shot into an empty net.

This stunned Bourne as it was against the run of play, then in the 38^th minute Fabrice Blewordah saw his low cross arrive at Rhys Bartlett’s feet & his first time shot from 10 yards was blocked for a corner. Two minutes later & the gods were against Bourne again as Bartlett latching onto a loose ball raced into the area & saw his shot beat Smith but not the post as it came back off it.

The second half saw East Grinstead finally get into the game & cause problems for the Bourne defence, seconds into the second half Leo Mazzone received the ball & from 20 yards his shot whistled past the post. In the 58^th minute East Grinstead nearly took the lead when the ball into the area fell to Charlie Postance 15 yards out but his shot from 15 yards was saved by the onrushing Brooks.

Sittingbourne had been under the cosh for 22 minutes then in the 68^th minute a free kick into the area found Lex Allan on his own but from 8 yards he headed wide. Seven minutes later Bartlett crossed into the area where Loynes saw his header saved by Smith. In the 78^th minute Daniel Hogan on the right crossed to the near post where Mazzone’s flicked header went over the bar.

In the first minute off added on time Bourne could have won the game when Charlie Allen in the area passed sideways to Rowland & his shot from 6 yards was blocked by Smith. In the third minute off added on time disaster struck for Bourne when Hogan’s cross into the area found Ricardo Thompson whose powerful header from 10 yards beat Brooks to win the game. The final whistle went& the Sittingbourne Players & new manager were gutted to lose in the fashion they did.

Anyway despite the result not going their way there is some good news for the future. The club are looking at having a three G pitch put down which would enable them to get more teams involved from juniors to Ladies.

Due to new FA rules changing rooms have to be a certain dimension & Bourne are building new changing rooms behind the goal to the right of the clubhouse, also with grants they are hoping to put up a new stand opposite the clubhouse so despite the result & the season so far the club are looking to the future & showing ambition.

When the old manager resigned within minutes there were people asking about the job & within a day there were 20 applicants showing that Sittingbourne is a good job to take but the Committee decided to give Aslan Odev a chance as he was already here & new about the club but the interest shown shows what people think about the club.

Sittingbourne:

1. Brooks 2. C.Webber  3. F.Blewordah     4. B.Davisson   5. J.Dorling    6. L.Allan  7. T.Loynes (76)
2. T.Guthrie (66) 9. K.Rowland  10. B.Dawodu (90+2)   11.  R.Bartlett

Subs Used: 16. J.Okimeji (66)  15. D.Smith (76)  14. C.Allen (90+2)

Subs Not Used:   12. H.Hatfull  17. M.Farrelly

Bookings: 7. T.Loynes (42)  9. K.Rowland (61)

East Grinstead Town:

1. Smith 2.  O.Bouling (10)    3. K.Miller-Neave      4. M.Wilson     5.  R.Thompson  6.  S.Rolph   7.  W.Hoare
2. L.Mazzone 9. T.Cook (56)  10. M.Elliott  11. O.Giraud-Hutchison (45)

Subs Used:  14. D.Hogan (10)  16. A.Cooney (45)  17. C.Postance (56)

Subs Not Used:  12. S.Sargent  15. S.Springett

Bookings: 8. L.Mazzone (61)  7. W.Hoare (66)

Referee:  Mr J.Hurst

Assistants:  Mr A.Thomson &  Mr D.Mirzadeh