Sittingbourne and Bromley’s under 23 side played out a hugely entertaining 3-3 draw at Woodstock on Tuesday night with the Isthmian Southeast side recovering from 1-3 behind to earn a deserved share of the pre-season spoils. 

For those in Sittingbourne red and black, the “business” end of pre-season has been reached with Ryan Maxwell close now to finalising his squad for the season whilst the Bromley youngsters know that progression in the right direction could see them involved in National League football as the season rolls on. 

On what was an ideal evening for football, Sittingbourne scored first when Darnell Kithambo headed home Josh Osude’s knock down of a deep left-wing cross from Ayman El-Morgharbel. 

It was nearly two shortly afterwards as Kithambo was denied a second by the right post – again from an El-Morgharbel cross before the home sides two trialists at the back got in a terrible muddle and allowed Saul Kader to level the scores.  

The home side then had Luke Woodward and Mitch May both miss good chances before Kader was again the recipient of some sloppy defending to put the youngester ahead for the first time. 

Again, Sittingbourne pressed and Gabbi Piorkowski had a fierce drive well held before the giant Bromley keeper did really well to thwart May as the Brickies striker look to have rounded him. 

After the break Bromley increased their lead with a fine low drive from the edge of the box and it could have been even better for the away side if the trialist in the Brickies goal had not made a fine save to thwart a Bromley striker clean through. 

As they adjusted to several changes at the break and early in the half, the home side eventually got back into the game, and after Correy Davidson and Cruise Nyadzayo combined brilliantly Alfie Bloomfield swept home the cross. 

And within minutes the Brickies were level as Bloomfield turned provider when he got on the end of Donvieve Jones’ deep centre for Bruno Tavares to sidestep a defender and slam the ball home. 

SITTINGBOURNE – Trialist, Osude, El-Morgharbel, Trialist, Weaire, Graham, Brissett, Woodward, Kithambo, May, Piorkowski 

Subs – Bloomfield, Davidson, Jones, Nyadzayo, Tavares, Tyrie, Samuels 

Images courtesy of Glen Smith