For the second time this season, Southeast Divisions leaders and title favourites Hastings United denied Sittingbourne a point with a winner in the dying seconds of stoppage time.
When the two sides met at the end of November, United won 2-1 courtesy of a ninety second minute winner – this time it was a ninety third minute winner from Tom Chalmers that denied Darren Blackburn’s side a point that their much-improved performance more than deserved.
The Brickies had been beaten by the only goal in their last two home games – against Burgess Hill and Chichester – and when Craig Stone opened the scoring from a corner that left home keeper Harry Brooks limping, the writing was on the wall for the home side. The Brickies couldn’t deal with a right-wing corner and with the keeper in a heap in the back of the net after a collision, Stone was on hand to turn the ball home.
Blackburn was relieved that his keeper was able to continue after lengthy treatment despite being in clear pain every time, he had to kick the ball.
But Sittingbourne responded magnificently – Tyler Anderson was a constant threat; Harry Miller ran himself into the ground in his first game back after a long injury lay off; and Alex Flisher rolled back the years as he regained his fitness levels with an outstanding strike that levelled the scores before half time that flew past Hastings’s keeper Louis Rogers.
The Hastings keeper was then lucky to get to the ball first as Ibrahim Bamba burst through – if Roger’s interception hadn’t had been perfect the home side would have surely been awarded a spot-kick – and Kane Rowland was unlucky with a low drive that flew inches wide of the right post with the keeper beaten.
The game turned just after the break when Andrew Sesay was shown a second yellow card leaving the leaders to play the last half hour with only ten men – referee Sear had no hesitation – and the home side almost took full advantage as Lex Allan rose at the back post to superbly head down for Alex Flisher to stretch and send the ball towards goal. Unfortunately for the home side, this time the former Hythe man’s aim wasn’t quite right, and the chance was gone.
As the half wore on, it looked as though there was only one side looking to win the game – and it wasn’t the division’s pacesetters! The Brickies probed and pressed but just couldn’t find a way through despite the efforts of Anderson and Rowland as they looked for a way through and when the referee signalled stoppage time it was the visiting supporters who were relieved.
Ironically that relief was to turn into pure ecstasy with the clock showing just half a minute of stoppage time left as Chalmers slammed home the winner sparking wild scenes of celebrations on the pitch, from the bench and amongst their supporters.
The home side looked on in disbelief as Mr Sear called time on proceedings whilst at the same time knowing that again their side had come ridiculously close to taking points of the side who are six points clear of the field with the seasons climax approaching fast! So near, yet so, so far away…
SITTINGBOURNE – Brooks, Okoye, Fisher, S Flisher, Dasho, Allan, A Flisher, Bamba, Rowland, Miller, Anderson.
Subs not used – Bancroft, Monger.
HASTINGS UNITED – Rogers, Black, Worrall (Hasler), O’Mara, Stone, Chalmers, Dawes (Pogue), Dixon, Adams, Sesay, Cooney (Hull).
Subs not used – Goldsmith, Scott.
REFEREE – Mr Sear