Something had to give at Sporting Club Thamemead in this Second Qualifying Round tie – Thamesmead Town have never been beyond this stage in their history, whilst for their opponents Sittingbourne they haven’t got beyond this round in nearly two decades.

And its the home side who’s heartache continues as Nick Davis capped a stunning personal week (which began remember with him along with Matt Wyatt being given the job of managing Sittingbourne) by heading the Bourne into Monday’s velvet bag for the Third Qualifying Round for the first time since the mid 1990’s!

But for the home side their wait to progress must wait another year as they succumbed to their Ryman Division One South opponents and finished with nine men following the ridiculous first half dismissal of skipper Lewis Tozer and the pointless last minute sending off of Theo Fairweather Johnson.

The game itself started at a decent tempo with Joe Taylor drilling an earlier drive into the Mead’s side netting before Tyrus Gordon Young drew a fabulous save from Bourne keeper Adam Molloy with a header.  The games first turning point came on 22 minutes when Tozer brought down Ryan Golding on the edge of the box only for referee Panconi to pull out a red card for the Mead skipper despite there being at least two covering defenders!

The visitors almost went ahead on 32 minutes when Nick Dunsden hit Thamesmead’s left post from 30 yards with the keeper Rob Budd motionless.  Back can the home side and sub John Scarborough hit the outside of the post with a header before Thamesmead went behind to a sensational if highly dubious free kick on the stroke of half time after suffering from a real set back!  As a ball was played into the visitors box, Dean Pennant went down and was clearly in a bad way as he didn’t move for some considerable time as Mead physio Alan Woodward sprinted on to treat him.  Sadly it appears Pennant was led away with his arm tightly strapped to his side indicating a bad dislocation of his shoulder!

Things got worse almost immediately at the other end as after referee Panconi had “adjudged” James Donovan had “fouled” Ryan Golding, up stepped Dunsden and hit a truly stunning free kick which gave Budd no chance of saving as it disappeared just under the angle of post and bar.

The Mead keeper was at his best seconds after half time brilliantly tipping Hicham Akhazzan’s low drive around the post, before thanks to Gordon Young’s persistence and fine run, the home side were level.  The Mead number nine burst into the Sittingbourne area holding off a couple of defenders before trying to go past keeper Molloy, who was adjudged to have brought Tyrus down, and even though he was perhaps technically going away from goals and there were challenging defenders on hand too, the referee again baffled many by producing the red card.  Sub Tom Loynes was brought on in goal (at the expense of poor Akhazzan), but had no chance with Karl Beckford’s penalty which was superbly placed in the corner of the net.

The home side though were only level for just over ten minutes when Davis was allowed the room to head home a free kick almost unchallenged.  It sparked scenes of joy amongst the Sittingbourne supporters in the crowd that followers of the club cannot have seen for many many years.

Fairweather Johnson then received two yellow cards in the space of eleven minutes for a second early bath – even if the second card did seem harsh – before in stoppage time, Gordon Young had the chance to force a replay as he burst into the box only to see his shot that he tried to curl round the keeper cannon to safety off of Loynes’ left knee.

With that went the home sides last chance of salvaging a replay and its Sittingbourne who move on down the Road to Wembley and into Monday’s draw.

THAMESMEAD – Budd, Bankole (Scarborough 22), Douglas, Pennant (Jewers 44), Tozer, Donovan, Roberts, Beckford (Power), Gordon-Young, Phillips, Fairweather-Johnson

Subs not used – Main and Butler

SITTINGBOURNE – Molloy, Brunt, John, Davis, Crimmen, Dunsden, Taylor, Girt, Golding (Coyne 77), Treadwell, Akhazzan (Loynes 52)

Subs not used – Hogg, Hayes, Brown and Jalloh

Referee – Mr J Panconi
Assistants – Mr P Evans & Mr M Stevens