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This same fixture last year ended in a 1-0 win for the Brickies with the winning goal scored by one Andrew Drury who was featuring on TV in the Sky sports coverage of Gravesend v Notts County, meanwhile his old team mates managed to go one better than last year by defeating the New Forest side by 2 goals to nil.

Danny Lye was unavailable for Sittingbourne but Jamie Coyle and Clint Gooding were both able to feature on the subs bench after their recent injuries. Dover have agreed to extend "Buster" Smissen's loan so he was available to play.

Sittingbourne snatched a goal after just 11 minutes when Darren Smith found Ben Taylor lurking just outside the left hand side of the Bashley area and he fired in a marvellous shot which was deflected past Bashley keeper Michael Hookway as he dived the wrong way.

Bashley then had the best of the  play in the half but the Sittingbourne defence played magnificently with Ben Taylor back to his best whilst Kieran Marsh and Tom Berry also showing something like their best form with Berry particularly constantly worrying the Bashley players with his non stop running.

Bashley's main first half threat was coming from Danny Gibbons. On 27 minutes he was thwarted by a last ditch challenge in the Brickies area then two minutes later he fired in a shot which bounced off Fewell straight to Joe Dowley who more by instinct than desire sent the ball over his own crossbar. From the corner Andy Culliford found Gibbons who again fired in a terrific shot which Fewell brilliantly tipped over. Sittingbourne continued to produce a stout defensive performance for the rest of the half.

The second half was a much more positive affair for the Brickies and they quickly increased their lead when on 51 minutes Darren Smith again turned goal maker, this time firing in a corner, Smissen rose majestically and headed the ball firmly past Bashley keeper Hookway.

Bashley still played well in midfield but just couldn't master the Brickies defence. When they did get through for a shot there was always Fewell,  who is now playing at least as good as former keeper Hook.

On 59 minutes Dave Wakefield had a deflected shot well saved by Fewell but Sittingbourne were now coming forward more and on 76 minutes they should have increased their lead when Hookway tried to dribble a back pass away from his goal only to be robbed, but with an open goal beckoning the Sittingbourne player hit his shot weakly and it struck the left hand post.

Joe Dowley came to Sittingbourne's rescue on 86 minutes when he cleared a header off the line but Sittingbourne finished the strongest as Clint Gooding found Kieran Marsh who produced a great save from Hookway. Then Darren Smith had a toe-poked shot go just wide.

A workmanlike victory then for the Brickies who are now just 3 points away from the play off position, the winners of whom gain one of the Premier Division slots in the non league set up.

Sittingbourne: Fewell, Ainsworth, Dowley, Smith, Campbell (Yorath 76 mins), Taylor, Spice (Gooding 22 mins), Marsh, Neal (Browning 88 mins), Smissen, Berry,  Subs not used: Coyle, Lindley