Sittingbourne finally beat their Swale neighbours at the third attempt in what could be described as a sedate derby.

The game was important for Faversham as they needed at least a point to get into the Play-offs whilst Sittingbourne had nothing to play for but pride.

The first half was really scrappy with neither keeper having to really make a save of note.  Sittingbourne had the first chance in the very first minute when Stephen Wright’s free kick from 30 yards was easily saved by Will Godmon then it was Faversham’s turn when in the 6^th minute Luke Harvey 20 yards out controlled the ball & then shot But Adam Molloy saved easily.

Another half chance came when Hitcham Akhazzan latched onto a clearance but his shot from 20 yards blazed over the bar.

In the 16^th minute Faversham could have taken the lead when on a counter attack Harvey on half way flicked it forward for Dean Grant fresh from his four goals Saturday & he ran forward & his shot from 18 yards went past the post.

The last chance of the half came on 30 minutes when a short corner was then swung into the area causing confusion & a scramble occurred & the ball fell at Akhazzan’s feet but his shot through a crowded area went wide.

Half time arrived & for both sides it wasn’t pretty but for Sittingbourne it was better than Saturday’s performance whilst for Faversham it was well down on Saturday’s performance.

The second half livened up with Sittingbourne on the attack & in the 54^th minute they took the lead when a corner into the 6 yard box saw Godmon miss his punch & Billy Parkinson knocked in then two minutes later a wonder goal,   Akhazzan 45 yards out saw the ball coming down from the sky & instinctly he volleyed it goal wards & Godmon off his line dived desperately tried to get it but it ended up in the back of the net.

This shook Faversham but they kept going even though they were not playing well as in the 58^th minute Harvey in the area twisting & turning passed to George Monger but his shot from 15 yards was saved by Molloy.

Four minutes later Renford Tenyue on the left received the ball cut inside & from 18 yards saw his shot go over the bar. Another chance came in the 64^th minute when Josh Stanford 25 yards out saw his volley saved by Molloy.

Changes were being made by Faversham & Charlie Robertson has only been on for two minutes when his shot from 35 yards came back off the cross bar.

Faversham were now throwing everything at Sittingbourne but in the 71^st minute Sittingbourne could have settled their nerves when Miles Cornwell disposed Matt Bourne on halfway ran on into the area where his shot was saved by Godmon’s legs & it came out to Steven Ito who shot home but he was flagged offside.

Another chance came their way in the 77^th minute when Molloy’s long clearance saw Akhazzan & Cornwell combining & Cornwell’s shot saved by Godmon & in the very next minute Faversham got a goal back when Robertson on the edge of the area threaded the ball in to the area for Stanford who stabbed the ball in from 5 yards beating Molloy to it, game on but even with 6 minutes of added on time Faversham could not muster a goal to get a point now they need to win their last two games & see how it pans out whilst Sittingbourne can take great pride & bragging rights from this derby game.

 

SITTINGBOURNE:

1. MOLLOY 2. B.PARKINSON  3. C.LEE  4. J.RICHARDSON  5. G.CRIMMEN  6. J.STEVENTON  7. S.WRIGHT (90+1) 8. A.ALLEN 9. M.CORNWALL 10. H.AKHAZAN  11. S.ITA (82)

SUBS USED:  12. T.CARSLE (82)  17. M.HURCOMB (90+1)

SUBS NOT USED:  14. S.WHIBLEY  15. J.EMBURY  16. T.BRUNT

BOOKINGS:  NONE

 

FAVERSHAM TOWN:

1. GODMON 2. R.COOPER  3. A.BROWN  4. D.CARRINGTON (65)  5. J.SCARBOROUGH  (69) 6. M.BOURNE 7. R.TENYUE 8. G.MONGER  9. D.GRANT  10. L.HARVEY  11. J.STANFORD

SUBS USED:   16. C.ROBERTSON (65)  14. L.KING (69)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. J.MAXTED  15. B.DAWADU

BOOKINGS:   7. R.TENYUE (85)

 

REFEREE:  Mr. L.BRENNAN

ASSISTANTS  Mr. J.BLOWER & Mr.Z .JACQUART

ATTENDANCE: 155