Sittingbourne made it eight wins in their last ten games as Three Bridges were well beaten at the Staxson Stadium. 

On paper, the game was a repeat of last season’s South-East Play Off Semi Final, but in truth this was as far removed from that evening as it could have been, the Sussex side have lost almost their entire playing staff since that night, whilst if anything, the Brickies have strengthened even further and as soon as Donvieve Jones had put the home side in front, Sittingbourne were in near total control. 

Jones hammered home a header from an early corner as the Brickies looked to keep pace with the division’s early leaders, and they looked as though they were going to go on and repeat the midweek five goal drubbing of Steyning Town Community.

Codey Cosgrave was inches away from turning home a Troy Howard cross whilst loud cries for handball from a Henry Sinai cross were waved away by Mr. Finnegan before Liam Smith glanced a header just too high.  

Just as the Brickies thought that they would just be a goal ahead at the break Richie Hamill let fly from thirty yards and the ball flew into the bottom corner giving keeper Nathan Bryson no chance. 

Ironically, Hamill’s goal had come just moments after what was to prove to be Bridges’ best chance of the game as Josh Hallard did well down the right and from his pull back Reece Hallard crashed the ball against the Brickies bar. 

The second period followed a similar pattern with the Brickies on top without really getting out of first gear. Mitch May had an effort that Bryson did really well to tip over before the keeper palmed a Henry Sinai free kick round a post. 

The game was settled with twenty minutes left as Smith powered a super header from a Hamill corner beyond Bryson for the Brickies third to seal three more points. It was nearly four late on when following the move of the match between Henry Lukombo, Joe Boachie and Ryan Kingsford, only a desperate defensive block denied the Brickies another goal. 

Three goals, three points – job done! 

SITTINGBOURNE – Earle, Jones (Steventon), Lukombo, El-Mogharbel, Smith, Arthur, Howard (Martin), Hamill, May (Kingsford), Cosgrave (Boachie), Sinai (Beckford) 

THREE BRIDGES – Bryson, Wellard (Hayden-Pickering), Josh Hallard, Bobomurodov, Reece Hallard, Campbell-Francis, Rivera, Holden, Velvick (Adam), Irving, Burnett (Kamhouri) 

Subs – Kalzon, Villavicencio 

REFEREE – Mr. Finnegan 

Pictures supplied by Paul Golding.