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Under strength Sittingbourne bow out of cups

A Sittingbourne side fielding seven changes from the team that defeated Maldon Town just over three weeks ago bowed out of the Southern League Cup to the same opponents on Tuesday night.

The Brickies gave first starts for the season to Toby Ashmore and Jack Tanner whilst Pat Mullen continued in goal for the unavailable Kevin Fewell, who was working in Birmingham.

Sittingbourne were missing the height of James Campbell and Paul Ainsworth at the back, a weakness that Maldon exploited after just 4 minutes when a corner was glanced onto the unmarked Simon Parker who headed the ball past Mullen to put Maldon a goal up.

The Brickies settled down and equalised 18 minutes later when Dave Hassett beat two Maldon  defenders to the ball and fired a rising shot into the roof of the net.

Almost straight from the restart Maldon regained the lead when the unfamiliarity of these Brickies players in  playing as a team became glaringly obvious and Nick Rugg, in acres of space, latched onto a cross and fired past Mullen.

Dean Hill and Shane Campbell had efforts go wide for the Brickies who finished the half strongly but without making another breakthrough.

The second half was a close affair but the sparse crowd, lack of atmosphere and unwelcoming atmosphere  in this ground at the head of the Blackwater estuary, making this one of my least favourite places to visit, wasn't helping the Brickies cause.

Tanner had a strong run on the right on 65 minutes but he shot well wide after seeming to do all the hard work.

Maldon increased their lead on 70 minutes when England youth international Chris Whelpdale found himself in acres of space and expertly powered home a first time shot into the Brickies net.

Clint Gooding had a shot held at the second attempt by Maldon Town's recent capture from Canvey Island, goalkeeper Glen Johnson, then Hassett set up a good chance for Lee Browning but he skewed his shot wide but the Brickies were unable to add to their goal tally and they bow out of the last cup competition that they were left in.
 
Sittingbourne: Pat Mullen, Jamie Coyle, Dean Hill, Clint Gooding, Adam Douglas (Brown 85) , Toby Ashmore, Shane Campbell, Jack Tanner, Jon Neal (Jacobs 76), Dave Hassett, Lee Browning (P Nolan 90), Subs: Lee Friend, Bradley Spice.