It has taken 20 years, but Sittingbourne have finally made it to the First Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Trophy
Saturday’s 2-1 win over Isthmian Premier side Bognor Regis Town sends Ryan Maxwells side into Mondays draw for the first time since 2005’s meeting with Burgess Hill Town who incidentally the Brickies beat in a league game last Tuesday.
The home side dominated the first half but only had Liam Smith’s thumping header to show for the efforts and were comfortable after the break until Spencer Spurway’s pile-driver levelled completely unexpectedly. Henry Sinai though was to prove the match winner as he applied the finishing touch to a Richie Hammill corner. The visitors nearly grabbed an underserved chance at penalties, but Henry Lukombo performed heroics for a goal line clearance in stoppage time to send the Brickies through.
Sittingbourne started on top, and Codey Cosgrave fired over as Troy Howard had a shot parried by keeper Ryan Hall before skipper Smith powered home Hammill’s corner.
Hall then did brilliantly to deny Cosgrave as the midfielder burst through with a brilliant full length save away to his left. From the corner, Jack Steventon will have been disappointed not to have hit the target with a free header.
Cosgrave again went close – next with a diving header which left Hall motionless as the ball flashed wide, and as the Brickies dominated, Bognor skipper Calvin Davies was extremely fortunate not to turn Smith’s driven cross towards Troy Howard into his own net as he lunged at the centre.
The second half began in similar fashion as Steventon looped a header just too high from another Hammill free kick before in a rare attack, Dan Gifford went down under Smith’s challenge and some in the Woodstock crowd thought referee Reece had pointed to the spot, where the official had “just” pointed for a goal-kick.
With twenty minutes left, and totally unexpectedly, Bognor equalised as Spencer Spurway drilled home an Exocet of a drive into the top corner of the Brickies net with Deon-Curtis Henry rooted to the spot as the ball flew into the top corner.
Within ninety seconds, the Brickies were back in front. Ayman El-Mogharbel was denied well by Hall and as the ball was recycled and Hall again denied Cosgrave with a magnificent save. But from the corner, the keeper completely misjudged Hammill’s corner and Sinai was on hand to turn the ball home.
The home side seemed destined for the next round by had one incredible late let off. A long ball was humped into the Brickies box and Bognor sub-Callum Barlow appeared to have elbowed Henry, but as the Brickies keeper laid prone the ball was hammered goalwards where full back Henry Lukombo somehow headed the ball off the line, and before the corner was taken, the final whistle blew, and Sittingbourne were through.
SITTINGBOURNE – Henry, Smith, Lukombo, El-Mogharbel, Steventon, Arthur, Sinai (Beckford), Hammill, Kingsford (Martin), Cosgrave (Boachie), Howard (Jones)
BOGNOR REGIS TOWN – Hall, Davies, Gamblin, Janneh (Kingswell), Spurway, Edmondson, Vaughan (Barlow), Burgess, Gifford, Higgs, Clout (Mather)
Subs – Long, Vince
REFEREE – Mr. Reece
Images courtesy of Paul Golding