newportvsitt261003

Sittingbourne continued their improvement by registering their third Dr Marten league Victory in a row thanks to two inspired goals from Bradley Spice.

This was Newport’s first competitive home defeat of the season and Sittingbourne’s first victory there for over ten years, and this one was achieved with Manager Mark Beeney in goal for the whole of the second half having replaced the injured Kevin Fewell on 44 minutes. Beeney is still an incredible presence between the sticks and didn’t let the team down.

The game also saw an unusual incident when female referee Mrs Frampton ordering the Stewards to eject a Newport fan for abusing one of her assistants.

Sittingbourne had their first effort on 15 minutes when a Danny Lye pass set up a chance for Bradley Spice but the Ports keeper Simon Arther easily held the shot. Four minutes later Paul Davies latched onto Danny Lye’s pass, spotted Arther out of his goal and attempted a lob which went just wide.

Then from a corner Davies fired another shot over the bar.

On 28 minutes the Ports Ashley Wright and Gareth Keeping swapped passes before Wright’s shot was handled by James Campbell just outside the area. Adam Lang stepped up to take the free kick and fired the ball through the Brickies wall and past Fewell to put Newport into an undeserved lead. Eight minutes later Newport’s Dave Hassett raced away and crossed inside to Jamie O’Rourke whose header flew across the goal and curled out for a goalkick. The game though was very even and on 40 minutes James Campbell found Bradley Spice who rifled a shot along the goal line.

With a minute to go of the half Brickies goal-keeper Kevin Fewell was injured and was replaced by Mark Beeney.

The Brickies had the last shout of the half when Jon Neal was brought down just outside the Ports penalty area but Bradley Spice’s free kick was well held by Arther.

The first half ended with Sittingbourne unlucky to be behind but they soon put right that injustice when after just 4 minutes of the restart Jon Neal found Bradley Spice who produced a magnificent curling shot to beat Arther and bring the Brickies back on level terms.

Newport tried to hit back and John Holmes headed wide on 52 minutes, but a minute later Danny Lye found Bradley Spice who tied Adam Lang in knots before firing a magnificent shot into the Ports net to put the Brickies ahead.

Sittingbourne were now on top and Mark Beeney had been seldom troubled since he came on however on 78 minutes Glen Howes tested him with a shot that he caught at the second attempt.

Ports manager Steve Tate substituted an unhappy Taffy Richardson and Lee Chuddy for Simon Pitcher and Adam Barsdell and for a while the Port got back into the game with Bardsell especially prominent.

On 79 minutes Gareth Keepings headed over from a good position and on 82 minutes Jon Holmes fired over, but Sittingbourne played out the final nail-biting 8 minutes without incident and finished the game worthy winners.

Sittingbourne: Fewell (Beeney 44 mins), D Smith, Dowley, Yorath, Campbell (C), Ainsworth, Spice (Nicholl 83 mins), Berry, Neal, Lye, P Davies, subs not used: L Smith, Pankhurst.