Four goals in the closing twenty-two minutes of the first half sends Sittingbourne into the opening weekend of the Isthmian League season on a real high as Bromley’s mix of youngsters and fringe players were put to the sword on a sunny Swale Saturday afternoon. 

The game and the Brickies exploded into life after a drinks break midway through the opening half with Joe Boachie netting a seventeen-minute hat-trick and then turning provider for Ayman to smash home a fourth before half time. 

Bromley did pull one back gloriously through a trialist drilling the ball into the top corner of Harley Earle’s net, before Sittingbourne’s own trialist drilled a brilliant strike beyond Bromley’s replacement keeper into the corner to cap a great afternoon for the home side. 

The game was a good contest and for the opening quarter a very even one with the Brickies enjoying the chances, with Boachie shooting narrowly wide. Bromley’s best chance fell to Levi Amantchi and he went close with a stinging shot that was not very far wide of the right post with the keeper scrambling. 

The opening goal was superbly crafted by Henry Sinai and Donvieve Jones down the right and from Sinai’s cross, Boachie powered home a far post header. 

Boachie had a chance for a second moments later but could steer his header this time on target, but he didn’t have to wait long for his and the Brickies second – again Sinai and Jones combined and this time the ball was played into Boachie who showed quick feet and curled a fine second beyond the reach of David Aziaya in goal. 

It was 3-0 seven minutes from the break when Boachie completed his hat-trick after he himself was felled on a great run into the box, and after designated taker Ryan Kingsland handed over the responsibility, Boachie stepped up and sent Aziaya the wrong way for a seventeen-minute treble. 

And he was not done there either and in the very next attack, Boachie turned provider for Ayman as he slipped the ball into the midfielder’s path and the ball was rammed home. 

Shellshocked Bromley needed half time and after the break it was almost as if the pre-season shackles were well and truly thrown away. 

Jones fired just too high; Liam Smith had a header from a corner inches too high; Mitch May shot wide after he rounded the keeper before Aziaya made an outstanding save to deny Smith after he played his way into the box. 

At the other end, the visitors were nearly handed a goal when Earle misjudged a back pass but was able to clear before Bromley did get on the scoresheet when a trialist magnificently cut inside and arrowed a super drive into the top left-hand corner of the net. 

The final word though went to the home side and after good work from Corey Cosgrave and Troy Howard, the Brickies own trialist hit a glorious fifth beyond the despairing reach of Bromley’s substitute keeper. 

SITTINGBOURNE – Earle, Jones, Smith, Poku, Lukombo, Arthur, Sinai, Cosgrave, Kingsland, Ayman, Boachie 

Subs – Beckford, Graham, Howard, May, Torsiello, Maxwell, Trialist A, Trialist B 

BROMLEY – Aziaya, Moralee, Fletcher, Sowunmi, Morgan, Kelmendi, Aris, Penn, Olamola, Amantchi, Corbin 

Subs – Trialist A, Trialist B, Trialist C, Trialist D, Trialist E 

REFEREE – Mr. Dann-Pye