This North Kent Derby was surprisingly low key in passion with the supporters of both clubs showing the passion, the first half was a scrappy affair with both defences on top although it could be said that the final ball from both sides was poor.

Chances were few & far apart as in the 4^th minute Luke Doherty saw his cross headed over the bar by Kane Rowland then Sittingbourne had their first half chance when Tom Brunt in the 8^th minute saw his low cross find David Abe who shuffled across the pitch before shooting but it went wide.

In the 37^th minute Sittingbourne had a really good chance when a long ball forward found Hicham Akhazzan whose lob from 18 yards went past the post then the goal which seemed unlikely came in the 41^st minute when a corner to the far post found Jono Richardson who from 6 yards out headed into the net.

Whitstable were stunned by this & they nearly got an equaliser in the last minute of the half when Peter Wedgeworth’s free kick from 30 yards curled agonisingly wide.

The second half saw Whitstable come out with some purpose as in the 52^nd minute Ryan Golding got to the by-line & his low cross to the near post was clipped just wide of the post by Tom Loynes.

In the 56^th minute Sittingbourne nearly increased their lead when a corner into the box was dropped by Luke Watkins & Oliver Brown smashed his shot over the bar.

Whitstable came really close to equalising in the 58^th minute when a corner was flicked on for Joe Kennet on the far post & his header was headed off the line by Richardson.

In the 63^rd minute Sittingbourne doubled their lead when a ball into the area was deflected out to Richardson who from 10 yards smashed it into the net this was probably against the run of play but they weren’t complaining.  I

n the 68^th minute a free kick into the Sittingbourne area saw a number of headers going goal wards & cleared before headed out for a corner.

Whitstable were unlucky in the 76^th minute when a corner to the back post found Wedgeworth whose snapshot came back off the post. In the 81^st minute Sittingbourne made sure of the win when in a breakaway David Abe running forward passed to Ellie Kayembe who from 20 yards shot past Watkins, he had only been on for 2 minutes.

Sittingbourne had a few more chances to increase their goal difference as Watkins saved twice with his legs & another chance being cleared off the line. The final whistle went & Sittingbourne gained their second victory at home & Whitstable had lost two on the trot on their away days.

 

SITTINGBOURNE:

1. MOLLOY 2. T.BRUNT  3. J.RICHARDSON  4. M.HARDEN  5. G.CRIMMEN  6. D.KEYTE (86)  7. S.OKOH (69)

8   . O.BROWN  9.  D.ABE  10. J.NWOKO  11.H.AKHAZZAN

SUBS USED; 16. B.BELL (69) (79) 12. E.KAYEMBE (79)

SUBS NOT USED:  15. K.BURRELL  17. V.MILLER

BOOKINGS:  4. M.HARDEN (12)  6. D.KEYTE (24)    10.  J.NWOKO (68)

 

WHITSTABLE TOWN:

1. WATKINS 2. L.DOHERTY  3. P.WEDGEWORTH  4. O.GRAY  5. J.KENNETT  6. N.TREADWELL (81)  7. J.MacKENZIE (51)
2. L.GIRT 9. R.GOLDING  10. K.ROWLAND (64)  11. T.LOYNES

SUBS USED: 12. M.GUILA (51)  14. J.LEASTER (64)  16. A.JAMES (81)

SUBNS NOT USED: 15. R.CRIMMEN  17. S.HEARD

BOOKINGS: 12. M.GUILA (83)

 

REFEREE: Mr D.SPAIN

ASSISTANTS: Mr S.IDRIS  &  Mr C.RICHARDS