Sittingbourne 0 Aveley 4

Sittingbourne equalled their worst performance of the season in Saturday’s match but this was certainly their worst display of the season, writes Peter Pitts.

Aveley were only one of four teams below them in the league but the Essex team now jump over the Brickies albeit only on goal difference, and with Potters Bar Town also winning Sittingbourne now find themselves just one place above the relegation zone, although only the bottom team in the league are likely to go down.

The team lined up with Rob Hudson in goal with Steve Williams on the bench, James Campbell has a slight injury and missed the game, although he should be fit for Easter Monday's game at Chatham, but back in the side came Lee Hockey. Also missing was Joe Dowley who after being sent off in a Sunday League game will now miss the rest of the season.

Neither teams looked to have much in their armoury in the early stages of the game. Bradley Spice coming closest when he headed a Clint Gooding cross just wide on eight minutes.

Then a 20 yard effort from Mark Lovell went straight to the Aveley keeper Mark Hardingham but on 14 minutes with their first shot of the game Aveley took the lead with a goal out of the blue as Gary Dixon looped a first time shot past a static Rob Hudson.

Aveley were gaining in confidence after an indifferent start and a period of pressure saw Leon Dussard's cross headed over by ex-Brickie favourite and now veteran! Simon Ullathorn.

Sittingbourne were relying on the high ball into the area either crosses or Lee Hockey's long throws. However, Aveley are a tall side and their defence was mopping up this type of ball with ease.

Spice and Mitchell Sherwood were unable to get round the defenders and there was little creativity about Sittingbourne's play.

On 35 minutes a poor clearance from Toby Ashmore allowed Dixon to make ground but Hudson came rushing out to grab the ball.

But a minute later Aveley had doubled their lead when Dixon's shot seemed to have been headed up to the bar by Ashmore but referee Mr Gosling had decided that the ball had crossed the line and gave a goal.

Sittingbourne boss Steve Lovell made two substitutions at the beginning of the second half replacing Ashmore and Danny Lawson with Jon Neal and Steve Deveraux.

Two minutes into the second half Spice was brought down on the edge of the Aveley area. He took the free kick himself but the Aveley wall blocked his shot.

At the other end former Dulwich Hamlet star Veli Hakki shot straight at Hudson but generally Sittingbourne were looking a little livelier.

But on 59 minutes Dixon found himself to the left of the Brickies area just outside the box and the Sittingbourne defenders obligingly gave him acres of space so that he had ample time to place his shot wide of Hudson and into the far corner of the net.

Dixon had completed his hat-trick and amazingly although only being with the club for about six weeks finds himself Aveley's leading scorer.

Sittingbourne had a chance on 73 minutes to pull a goal back when Deveraux corner’s eluded everyone and fell to Spice at the far post but he stabbed at his shot and the ball flew across the goal and went over for a goal kick.

Six minutes later Kieran Marsh connected with a corner ball but sent his shot crashing against the Aveley bar.

To rub salt into the wounds four minutes later a cross-field ball found Michael Gorman lurking on the edge of the Brickies area and his first time shot flew past Hudson and into the net for Aveley's fourth.

There was no way back now for the Brickies and with all the teams below them picking up at least a point they are still not mathematically clear of relegation.

Sittingbourne: Hudson, Ashmore (Deveraux 46) , Lawson (Neal 46) , Ainsworth, Edwards (Belcher 63), Marsh, Hockey, Gooding, M Lovell, Spice, Sherwood, Subs: Spiller, Williams