Sittingbourne 0 Arlesey Town 1

Monday 03rd April 2006

Sitingbourne will be wondering how they were unable to get anything out of
this game at Bourne Park on Saturday, writes John Pitts.They dominated the second half so much that Arlesey only ventured into the Brickies penalty area once in the second half. Unfortunately for Sittingbourne when an Arlesey forward did get into the area, Knowles rushed out to confront him and the referee deemed that the challenge warranted a penalty. Lee Tekell stepped up to take it and easily beat the stand in
keeper.

Knowles was in goal because Steve Williams had injured his shoulder in the
last minute of the first half and was unable to continue. With Sittingbourne's reserve keeper, Rob Hudson, also injured they were unable to have a recognised goalkeeper as a substitute hence Knowles taking his place between the posts.

Arlesey started the match like an express train and spent the first ten minutes of the match on attack. During this time, Williams distinguished himself with a couple of very good save. Perhaps the best was a tip over from Martyn Williams after the Arlesey forward had tried to chip the ball over his head. Williams also saved at the feet of Arlesey's captain, Luke Gregson, and clattered into a goal post which is where he possibly sustained the injury that caused him to be substituted later on in the game.

Sittingbourne weathered the storm and gradually came more into the game.
Bradley Spice, in particular, was causing a number of problems for Sittingbourne but without really threatening the goalkeeper.

From a Marsh corner a shot was fumbled by Tasker and the ball slipped past the goal for another corner. From this Campbell was first to the ball but his header was comfortably held by the keeper.

After 33 minutes a free kick given for a foul by Dowley was driven hard across the goal by Tekell. Williams saved well but further aggravated his shoulder. Spice, at the other end did well to get in a right wing cross that Jon Neal just failed to get to.

Right on half time, Marsh drove the ball narrowly over the Arlesey bar as Tasker came rushing out of his goal.

Six minutes into the second half came the best chance of he match so far,
This was from another good cross by Spice. This time Lovell stretched for the ball two yards out and made contact. Unfortunately for the Bourne, the ball went just the wrong side of the goal post.

Seven minutes later, Ashmore found himself in the unfamiliar position of bearing down on the Arlesey goal with seemingly only Tasker to beat but a great saving challenge from an Arlesey defender saved the day.

It was all Sittingbourne now with Arlesey unable to venture out of their half. That is until the 83rd minute when Knowles challenge gave away the penalty.

A strange game really, Arlesey just "won" the first half whilst Sittingourne absolutely dominated the second but conceded the only goal. Certainly they
will feel disappointed at losing this one.

Sittingbourne: Steve Williams (Mitchell Sherwood 45), Toby Ashmore, Joe
Dowley, Paul Ainsworth, James Campbell, Kieran Marsh, Tristan Knowles, Clint Gooding, Mark Lovell, Bradley Spice, Jon Neal:
Subs: Ricky Spiller, Peter Taylor, Danny Lawson, Charlie Belcher.

Arlesey Town: Carl Tasker, Ozie Foster, Paul Bloss, Dave Hatchett, Darren
Hay, Michael Cox (James Taylor), Thomas Hobbs (Ryan Nicholl), Luke Gregson, Martyn Williams (Lee Downham), Michale McKenzie, Lee Tekell. Sub: Stefan Shamlian