Mitch May’s first Sittingbourne hat-trick gave the Brickies just the perfect start to 2024 that they needed after a tough Festive Period but left Beckenham Town floundering at the foot of the South-East table. 

May’s treble plus Chris Harris’ thumping header sealed the home side’s first win of the New Year after a Christmas campaign with games against Sheppey United, Cray Valley PM and champions elect Ramsgate, whilst for the visitors it is no win in six during which time, they have conceded twenty-two to start 2024 bottom of the table six points from safety. 

The Brickies did not take long to hit the front. Harris raced through onto a fine ball and as he rounded keeper Nick Blue, the keeper brought him down and stepping up May rolled the penalty beyond the diving Blue into the bottom corner for his fourth goal in his last four starts. 

The visitors nearly forced their way through when Freddie Nyhus had an effort beaten out by keeper Bobby Mason when he had battled through, and it was the “nudge” that the Brickies doubled the lead – D’sean Theobalds corner was met by Harris’ thumping header and the ball whistled into the net. 

Steve Townsend then stung Mason’s finger-tips with a fierce drive just before the break, but the half time whistle seemed to take the fight out of the visitors and after Harris had twice gone close – the first occasion being a header which Blue produced an amazing reflex save to keep out – before May finally gave the home side the breathing space they craved.

A good through ball released the giant striker and from the edge of the box, he coolly slotted home his second and Sittingbourne’s third. 

The hat-trick goal duly arrived twenty minutes from time. Harris hit a low drive that Blue again did well to reach but as the ball rebounded, May was on hand to net his third – that is six goals for the big man in his last four starts and he will surely play a big part in the Brickies push for the Play Offs… 

SITTINGBOURNE – Mason, Bentley, Graham (Piorkowski), Woodward, Turner, Arthur, Ilic (Hope), Theobalds, Harris, Ayman, May (Adeyinka) 

Subs – Maxwell, Uyi 

BECKENHAM TOWN – Blue, Paul, Wedgeworth, Olusanya, Agoro, Carter, Sinai, Nyhus (Hall), Falade, Lovatt, Townsend (Pink) 

Subs – Anderson, Griffin, Allen 

REFEREE – Mr David 

Pictures supplied by Paul Golding