After three consecutive League defeats without finding the scoresheet, Sittingbourne held on for a vital 3-2 win against Whyteleafe. 
The win should have been more comfortable when the Brickies went three up just into the second half, but they had to hold firm against a spirited fightback from the Surrey side, who may, possibly should, have had a second penalty in stoppage time.
Hicham Akhazzan gave Sittingbourne a 22nd minute lead, reacting quickest when Josh Wisson’s shot landed at his feet, and the advantage was doubled on 42 as Dan Hughes’ shot came off the body of Whyteleafe keeper, Adam Highsted, and nestled in the net.
Three minutes into the second half, Steven Ita extended the lead with a shot that was too powerful for Highsted, which should have secured the win. But Ryan Fowler struck on 67 after the visitors had brought on all three substitutes, and when Sam Clayton converted a penalty seven minutes later, it looked as though two points might slip away, but Sittingbourne held on.
Whyteleafe started the match on the front foot, but were very reliant on the long throws of Tommy Smith, which easily reached into the 6-yard box. However, there was only one half chance, with Jono Richardson blocking a shot from Sam Clayton, as Sittingbourne coped well with the threat.
The Brickies did have a few moments in and around the Whyteleafe area before taking the lead on 22 minutes, but frustratingly, there was no end product, with Richardson’s shot over the closest they came.
The goal came from a good move on the left wing, with Miles Cornwell rolling a pass into the path of Josh Wisson. The England Schoolboy’s attempted shot landed at the feet of HIcham Akhazzan, and the captain for the evening (on the occasion of his 400th Brickies appearance) turned quickly to stab a shot under the advancing Adam HIghsted.
Following the goal Whyteleafe were unable to build any real momentum, with Jack Steventon and George Crimmen comfortable, although Jamie Byatt did manage to nip in ahead of Adam Molloy and fire against the right hand post from an acute angle.
Sittingbourne were building concerted pressure on the Whyteleafe penalty area as Steven Ita lashed a shot wide. And it was Ita who was central to the second goal before the break. The winger picked up a clearance on halfway and exchanged passes with Ollie Bankole. Ita drove forward before laying a pass into Dan Hughes just inside the area, and Hughes fired a shot off the body of Highsted to double the Brickies’ advantage.
The game appeared to have been sealed three minutes into the second half as Adam Molloy’s long freekick landed at the feet of Cornwell, who saw Ita making a run to high left. One short pass later and Ita was in behind the defence and thundered a left foot shot beyond Highsted’s dive, although it’s doubtful the keeper would have kept it out even if he’d got a hand to it.
By the hour, Whyteleafe had made all three substitutions and the presence of Roscoe Dsane and Shawn Lye seemed to unsettle the Sittingbourne defence, allowing the visitors to control the final third of the pitch. Vernon Francis fired a volley wide, and Ryan Fowler twice saw his shot blocked as the ball pinballed around the Sittingbourne area.
It looked as though a goal was coming, and it arrived on 67. Daryl Coleman was allowed to wander into the area, and although he misplaced his pass, it ran back to the edge of the box to Fowler, who curled his finish just inside the right hand post.
Whyteleafe were now committing players forward, leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter attack, and Cornwell brushed off two challenges to stride into the area, but Dean Hamlin had tracked the break to intercept as Hughes was preparing to strike.
Sittingbourne couldn’t retain the ball from the thrown and suddenly Whyteleafe broke with 4 attackers facing three defenders. Sam Clayton switched play quickly out to Fowler, who laid a ball into the path of Coleman’s supporting run, which was halted by Callum Naessens bodycheck inside the box. Clayton stepped up with a composed finish to beat Molloy’s dive to his right.
It was now one-way traffic as Sittingbourne’s defending became more and more desperate. Clayton twice struck shots wide left of the goal, and Shawn Lye had a shot deflected past the post as Whyteleafe applied the pressure. Then, in stoppage time, Naessens appeared to sweep the legs of Fowler inside the area, but to Sittingbourne’s relief, Mr Foley waved away Whyteleafe’s appeals.
Three vital points then for Sittingbourne that moves them up one place to 19th ahead of another must-win double header with 21st place Walton & Hersham over the next seven days, and crucially now nine points clear of the relegation zone.
SITTINGBOURNE: Adam Molloy, Callum Naessens, Jono Richardson, Jack Steventon, George Crimmen, Josh Wisson, Hicham Akhazzan, Ollie Bankole, Miles Cornwell, Dan Hughes (Jordan Wells 88), Steven Ita (Stefan Wright 77).
Subs not used: Scott Whibley, Andy Irvine, Josh Algar.
Goals: Hicham Akhazzan 22, Dan Hughes 42, Steven Ita 48.
WHYTELEAFE: Adam Highsted, Dean Hamlin, Nathan Simpson, Vernon Francis, Jawmal King (Tom Pratt 54), Tommy Smith, Ryan Fowler, Daryl Coleman, Ike Feehi (Shawn Lye 60), Jamie Byatt (Roscoe Dsane 60), Sam Clayton.
Goals: Ryan Fowler 67, Sam Clayton 74 (pen).
Attendance: 101
Referee: Mr Matt Foley
Assistants: Mr Jack Bloxham and Mr Martyn Cannon