Sittingbourne edged closer to mathematical safety in the South East with a come from behind win that still leaves VCD Athletic fighting to get out of the relegation Play Off places at the foot of the table.
After Soul Kader had fired the visitors in front with a fine low drive. Skipper Joe Ellul equalised for the Brickies with a powerful free header just before the break.
The second half was cagey and very tight before the home side netted twice late on courtesy of Correy Davidson and substitute D’wade James, but it might have been so different had young debutant keeper Alfie Rogers not made a terrific full length save to deny Michael Aziaya with the score still at 1-1.
In a very tight opening half, it was the visitors who had the best early chance when Aziaya fizzed a shot just past Rogers’ right post as the home side battled to get a foothold to protect their eight-game unbeaten run – and an unbeaten home run which now dates back to that has lifted Ryan Maxwell’s side away from the bottom four.
One of the teams that has replaced them are VCD, but under new boss Michael Power, the visitors showed that they do have fight left in their campaign to get out of the bottom four.
They duly took the lead when they caught the Brickies out with a swift break down the right and as the ball was played, Kader skilfully took the ball away from a couple of defenders before scoring into the bottom corner beyond a despairing Rogers.
The home side thought they’d levelled just past the half hour when a long free kick was nodded down by Chaynie Burgin for Davidson whose first time drive was brilliantly turned aside by Jordan Gilmore in the VCD net.
Gilmore again came to his side’s rescue as he clutched Ellul’s far post header (from a corner) under the bar, but the visitors didn’t heed the warning as from the next flag kick, Ellul rose unopposed to head home the equaliser for his first Sittingbourne goal at Woodstock.
The second half began as tensely as the first. The home side had loud penalty appeals (for handball) waved away by referee Doyle, whilst the visitors were within inches of retaking the lead when a ball was only half cleared to Aziaya whose rasping low drive clipped a defender but was magnificently tipped round the post by Rogers low to his right – a real fillip for the young keeper making his debut following the recent horrendous injury to keeper Harley Earle.
With just five minutes left on the clock, the home side finally edged in front and broke VCD hearts. A long ball from Rogers was brilliantly flicked by Burgin for substitute James, who found Davidson wide on the left. The wing back cut inside, rode a couple of lunging tackles before gloriously firing into the bottom corner of the net with his right foot to spark wild scenes of celebrations.
Then to add insult to VCD’s “injury”, a last minute corner caused mayhem in the box and James was on hand to prod home his first Brickies goal since his deadline day arrival.
The home side are now mathematically safe from direct relegation and are seven points ahead of the relegation Play Off zone with four games to go whilst this defeat leaves VCD rooted in the Play Off zone at the wrong end of the table and will be looking to the Brickies to do them a favour on Easter Monday when relegation haunted Corinthian go to Woodstock.
SITTINGBOURNE – Rogers, Jones, Davidson, Ellul, Tyrie, Graham, Hope (May), Warren, Burgin, Eyoma (James), Singh.
Subs – Uyi, Follea, Mbonkwi.
VCD ATHLETIC – Gilmore, Holland, Ross, Airen (Tanner), Bath, Jonah, Allassani (Dainkeh), Dent, William. Aziaya, Kader.
Subs – Awoleke, Barnes, Banjoko.
REFEREE – Mr Doyle