Sittingbourne 1-3 Cray Wanderers - The title is in our hands now, says Jenkins

Not even Cray old boy Gary Abbott could inspire his play-off chasing Sittingbourne to match the league leaders, as Cray dominated this top-of-the-table Kent derby from start to finish, in a game that wasn’t helped by a strong wind blowing down the middle of Bourne Park.

The Brickies boss was philosophical afterwards, when he conceded to BBC Radio Kent, “We were beaten by the better side today. Obviously I’ve known Jenko (Cray boss Ian Jenkins) for a long time, but they came with a plan today and we really couldn’t match them.

“It will take a lot from us to win the league now, but we’re still right in there in the play-off hunt, which is why, if I’m honest, Monday’s home game against Leatherhead (which is being covered live by www.kentishfootball.co.uk) is much more important to us than today.

“They’re the best side that we’ve played this season, and I hope they go on and win it.”

Abbott was clearly frustrated at his side’s performance, particularly in the first half, when it took 27 minutes for Cray goalkeeper Glen Knight to touch the ball!

Such was Cray’s dominance in the opening 45 minutes, Jenkins would have been concerned at the lack of chances his championship chasers created.

On ten minutes, Leigh Bremner and Jamie Wood enhanced passes on the edge of the box, only for Bremner to allow the ball to run away from him, and as the angle decreased, the striker’s shot flew across the face of goal, rather than into the bottom corner.

Jamie Wood then had a free-kick tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Matt Reed, before Cray got the goal that their dominance deserved eight minutes from half-time.

Simon Osborn floated in a delightful cross from the right and it was met by the lunging Bremner, whose faint header took the ball beyond Reed and into the corner of the net.

Sittingbourne could have been level on half-time when Tom Bradbrook, in the Brickies only attack of the first half of any note, held off the impressive Cray skipper Mark Willy, only to be denied by the keeper’s knees.

Immediately after the break, the Cray goal did have a lucky escape, however, when Aaron Day dithered when shepherding the ball out. Sittingbourne's top-scorer Richard Brady nipped in and tried to pull the ball back for Colin Richmond, but his centre hit the back of Danny Chapman’s heel before ricocheting of Steve Aris’ left-foot, onto the base of the left post and up into the arms of the grateful Knight.

This galvanised Cray into an almost instant response, as on 49 minutes, their lead was doubled.

Lewis Wood’s corner was nodded down by Scott Kinch for Aris to bundle home his third goal of the season.

Cray’s dominance continued as Lewis Wood shot wide after being set up by Kinch, before Kinch again provided the pass to Jamie Wood to bring the best out of Reed and as Lewis Wood closed in for the kill, Ryan Andrews was on hand to clear the danger for the home side.

It purely delayed the inevitable, however, as with twenty minutes left, Cray wrapped up the points.

Veteran defender Colin Luckett hit a 25-yard free-kick, which curled and dipped into the net, giving poor Reed no chance at all.

The only black spot for Cray, on a fine afternoon, came three minutes later when Kinch was shown a straight red card by referee Paul Kelly for a lunge at Joe Dowley.

It was a shame for Kinch, who had been one of Cray’s better players, but after losing control, the challenge really left the referee with little choice.

Sittingbourne did pull a goal back on 76 minutes when Brady escaped down the left and pulled the ball back for Bradbrook, who missed his initial shot before bundling the ball over the line.

And so, with eight games left, Cray remain six points clear of the chasing pack (and although Kingstonian have three games in hand all three are away from home).

It was not surprising that Jenkins was in a buoyant mood after the game, when speaking to BBC Radio Kent.

He said: “We came here with a plan, and we’ve got to be delighted of coming to a place like this and beating one of our rivals so comfortably.

“We were dominant in the first half - let’s face it when it takes your keeper to actually touch the ball you know you’re doing something right!”

The Cray boss was then asked about losing last year’s play-off final, “It probably has a lot to do with the way we’ve played this year," he replied.  "We've kept near enough the same squad, and we definitely don’t want to go through that again.

“It’s in our hands now and we know that if we keep winning, we will win the league.”

Looking ahead, the Cray boss added, “We’ve got two home games now in the next week (against Chipstead on Tuesday and Whyteleafe next weekend), and if we can get six points from those two games, we really will set a marker for the others to chase.”

And so, the second oldest football club in the world now face a month where they could create their own bit of history.

Sittingbourne: Matt Reed, Ryan Andrews (Bradley Spice 62), Joe Dowley, Matt Bourne, Nick Reeves, Rio Alderton, Colin Richmond, Mark De Bolla, Tom Bradbrook, Richard Brady, Mark Green.
Subs: Ellie Kayembe, Hicham Akhazzan, Billy Manners, Kieran Marsh.

Goal: Tom Bradbrook 76

Booked: Matt Bourne 69

Cray Wanderers: Glen Knight, Aaron Day, Colin Luckett, Danny Chapman, Mark Willy, Steve Aris, Scott Kinch, Simon Osborn, Lewis Wood (Dean Standen 87), Leigh Bremner (Richmond Kissi 71), Jamie Wood (Dean Morris 78).
Subs: Michael Munday, Tommy Whitnell.

Goals: Leigh Bremner 37, Steve Aris 49, Colin Luckett 70

Sent off: Scott Kinch 73

Attendance: 229
Referee: Mr Paul Kelly (Walderslade)
Assistants: Mr Stephen Roots (Tunbridge Wells) & Mr Jonathan Stone (Ashford)