A truly remarkable second half fight back saw Sittingbourne’s youngsters come from two down to beat Dover Athletic 4-2 in the Kent Reliance Under 18s Cup Final inspired as they were by the manager’s son!

Jake Emberly scored twice and created a third with a performance that thrilled his Dad John, who also coaches the side.  A proud Dad told KSN after the game, “I’m delighted for Jake – it’s been tough on him being the manager’s son, but he’s done brilliantly and scored recently on his debut for the first team.  But it wasn’t just about him – it highlights what we’ve been telling Nick (Davis the Sittingbourne first team boss) for some time that we’ve got some great youngsters at the club – a fact that Nick already knows as he’s already used six or seven in his first team squad.”

Dover enjoyed the best of the early exchanges with Rory Smith twice going close and Robert Henry seeing a shot cleared off of the line by Sami Meziane.  But the best chances of the opening quarter saw Jake Emberly hit the Dover woodwork, before Connor Williams forced Dover keeper Daniel Woodward into a really smart save low to his right.

It was then Sittingbourne keeper Cameron Hall’s turn to brilliantly save from Liam Smith following a quick corner, before Dover took the lead on the half hour when John Brown comfortably beat the Brickies keeper with some aplomb from the edge of the box.

Dover were now in control and Hall saved well from Rory Smith’s free kick and from the resulting corner Wesley Maggs thumped a header just wide, before they doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when Rory Smith finally got the goal he deserved as he rounded Hall before rolling the ball into the net, and it could have been even better for Jon Barrett’s side as with almost the last kick of the half Connor Miller rattled the Sittingbourne bar with a free kick.

Sittingbourne were then gifted a life line when Emberly was pushed in the box and from the spot, Emberly dusted himself down and cool as you like rolled the ball into the bottom corner as Woodward went the wrong way.  The goal then inspired the Brickies and on the hour they levelled.  Wilkins saw a shot cleared off the line by Wesley Maggs and as the ball was played back into the Dover box, Emberly was on hand to brilliantly turn the ball into the net.

The Young Brickies were now rampant and Caleb Bearman-Dyce was so desperately unlucky with a shot that cannoned to safety off of the crossbar, before Sittingbourne got the luck that they perhaps had deserved earlier as Harry Collins’ free kick was turned in fortuitously at the far post by Ed Bensley.  They were then agonisingly close to extending their lead as a ball ricocheted to Emberly who was inches away from a hat –trick as his stabbed shot went just past Dover’s right post!  The Brickies number nine was then shaken up as he and Woodward collided on the edge of the box as the Dover keeper made a very brave block as he raced from his line.

The comeback though was signed, sealed and delivered when the diminutive Harry Woods stooped to steer a header wide of Woodward as the Dover defence couldn’t deal with a ball into the box.

Dover boss Jon Barrett was philosophical when he spoke to KSN after the game.  “We knew at half time that we had to keep working as they’re always a dangerous team, but we just couldn’t get the same foot hold that we got early on in the first half, and they got the early goal back and pushed on where we didn’t!  When you are losing possession everything seems to go against you as happened!  We’re proud of the boys as they put in a good shift all the way to the finish but in the end it wasn’t meant to be.  Games are 45 minutes each way and you could say that we had a hand on the Trophy at half time but at this level we know when we play League games, games can change in a flash, but if the boys want to learn and progress they’ve got to learn from games like today and move on, which I’m sure they will.  We’re very proud of them just to get here – we’ve still got the League and the League Cup and we’ll go again next Sunday.”

A remarkable win for Sittingbourne then especially when you consider the schedule that their players have endured recently as boss Embery explained when he spoke with KSN, “It’s been a long season for the boys as most of them have been playing under 21s – today’s the fourth game in a week for a lot of them and the ninth in the last fortnight.  So to comeback the way we did in the second half really does show a desire.  We’re a resilient side and even when they went two down today, they didn’t panic or lose their focus.”

“We’ve got some boys on trial at League clubs at the moment – I’m always looking to push the boys on for Nick and the first team, and I think they’re more than good enough for the Ryman South division.  It’ll help them going forward, it’ll help Nick and it’ll help the club going forward which has been a bit dormant in recent years!  It brings something different and I hope that it’s the start of something especially as the Club chairman walked in just after we scored the first goal.  To be fair Maurice (Dunk – the club chairman) and Dave (Brown – the youth section chairman) have backed us and allowed us to do a job with no restrictions or interference and the results have come like today’s.”

 

 

DOVER ATHLETIC – Daniel Woodward, Daniel Partridge, Tyler Wilkinson, Wesley Maggs, Karl Chapman, Harry Bates, Robert Henry, Liam Smith, Rory Smith, Joseph Garrett, John Brown

Subs – Conner Holmes, James Stanbrook, Connor Miller, Joshua Ling, Samuel Kibler

 

SITTINGBOURNE – Cameron Hall, Luke Snazel, Danny Rumbol, Ed Bensley, Josh Wison, Jack Hyslop, Sami Meziane, Taylor Naessens, Jake Emberly, Caleb Bearman-Dyce, Connor Williams

Subs – Harry Collins, Adam Wallace, Harry Woods, Billy O’Connell, Simon Kabamba

Pictures supplied by Nick Dunn.