sittvburg170104

Sittingbourne's goal drought continued at a muddy Bourne Park and it's now just 1 goal in the last 5 matches for them and it's been 6 matches since a victory.

Steve Rutter made his debut, having joined from Chatham in midweek, whilst Bradley Spice and Michael Smissen missed the game through injury.

The game began evenly enough and after 7 minutes Clint Gooding blasted a great chance over the bar.

Sittingbourne had looked quite comfortable but the Hillians took the lead on  13 minutes when a long goal clearance by Burgess Hill keeper Pat Gannon found the Brickies defence and Kevin Fewell in two minds with neither claiming the ball, however Nicky Sullivan nipped in and fired  into an empty net.

The once impressive Brickies defence are going through a bad patch and on 21 minutes they were torn apart by Steve Harper as he found Sullivan who once again blasted the ball in the net to put the East Sussex side two up.

Sittingbourne then steadied the ship and came more into the game but apart from  John Price just clearing over his bar to rob an unmarked Rutter the Brickies were causing the Burgess Hill defence few problems.

The second half began badly for the Hillians as Pat Gannon had to go off injured and was replaced by two goal hero Sullivan between the sticks.

The Brickies faithful were hoping that the stand in keeper would be tested but in truth he had few direct shots to save during the rest of the match.

Sittingbourne though certainly did better in this half and on 73 minutes a Darren Smith corner was headed over by Jamie Coyle from almost under the Burgess Hill bar.

The Hillians had a couple of shots  but just like the Brickies efforts the keeper wasn't troubled.

Lee Browning replaced Joe Dowley and with 5 minutes of the game to go he was unlucky when he headed a Ben Taylor cross just wide of the left hand post.

A weak Steve Rutter shot straight to Sullivan was the Brickies last attempt at goal but by then it was too late and the Hillians have now defeated the Brickies twice this season by the same score and have ended their own 5 games without a win spell.

Sittingbourne: Fewell, Coyle, Dowley (Browning 67 mins), Campbell, Ainsworth, Taylor, Gooding (Marsh 62 mins), Lye, Neal, D Smith, Rutter Subs not used: Berry, Beeney

Attendance: 216

www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

To advertise here, telephone Stephen McCartney 07979 418 360