Sittingbourne 2-0 Whitstable Town

And in all honesty Mark Lane’s Oystermen can have little or no complaints about the final score as had it not been for young keeper Shaun Smith, this defeat would have certainly been a lot heavier.

Perhaps with memories of the corresponding fixture last season, when Whitstable raced onto an early three goal lead, the home side started much the brighter and as early as eight minutes Lawrence Harvey should really have headed Sittingbourne in front from a Joe Dowley free kick.

Whitstable then went close themselves when Matt Reed produced a stunning scrambling save to push round a deceptive header from Dan Wisker.  Gareth Cornhill’s free kick was delivered perfectly, and Wisker back pedalling seemed to have guided a header wide of the Brickies custodian, but Reed did remarkably well to push the ball aside. 

That though was to be Whitstable’s best chance of the game as they seemed to lose their way badly particular in the final third thereafter. 

There were a couple of occasions that the ball fizzed across the face of the Sittingbourne goal, but that was as close as Lane’s side got!

On the other hand the one bright spot for Lane was the form of his young keeper.  Smith made several telling stops throughout and even saved Paul Semakula’s 35th minute penalty – awarded after Jim Sherman had bundled over Hicham Akhazzan. 

The on loan Tonbridge midfielder’s penalty was a good one – to the keepers right – but Smith guessed the right way and got enough of a touch on the ball to brilliantly tip the ball over the bar.

Bradbrook then fired into the side netting after racing clear before Smith acted more as a sweeper than a keeper by kicking away Dowley’s defence splitting pass which was intended for Akhazzan.

The second half began as the first ended, with Whitstable on the back foot and Sittingbourne probing continually without looking like beating Smith.

Jaie Nuttal who was introduced 10 minutes after half time saw a shot finally beat Smith but fly a yard wide of the keepers right post, but even the young keeper was powerless as Bradbrook gave the Brickies the lead on 65 minutes capitalising on a horrendous mistake by defender Steven Lloyd. 
Reed’s huge goal kick was allowed to bounce by the Whitstable central defender and Bradbrook took full advantage to dance around Smith to coolly net his eleventh goal of the season. 

Smith again kept his side in the game with a fine double save to deny Ryan Golding on 80 minutes.  Nutall’s free kick found Nick Reeves at the back post (the central defender only just made the starting eleven after arriving from Stansted Airport 40 minutes before kick off), and intelligently Reeves nodded the ball back across the face of goal for Golding to thunder in a header that Smith did well to block. 

As play continued, the ball broke to Golding again on the edge of the box, and his low drive was brilliantly saved by Smith low to his right.

The second goal had to come and it eventually arrived on 88 minutes.  Bradbrook again beat the offside trap but seemed to be caught in two minds as he bore down on goal, and the chance was seemingly lost. 

Golding following up though thundered in a shot that Lloyd did well to block and as the ball looped away from goal, Nutall adjusted his feet superbly and lobbed / curled the ball over the stranded Smith and into the net.

On undoubtedly the coldest night of the season so far, the Oystermen returned down the M2 and Thanet Way a well beaten side, and manager Lane knows that he must change things around soon if there is not to be a winter of discontent at the Belmont! 

Bourne Park on the other hand is buzzing, and you can’t help but wonder that after missing out on the Play Offs for each of the last two seasons that this might just be the year for Gary Abbott and his side!

Sittingbourne: Matt Reed, Joe Horlock, Dan Palfrey, Nick Reeves, Lawrence Harvey, Jack Hooper (Jaie Nuttall 55), Ross Morley (Sam Collins 85), Paul Semukula, Tom Bradbrook, Hicham Akhazzan (Ryan Golding 69), Billy Manners.
Subs: Fraser Bent, Ryan Hooker.

Goals: Tom Bradbrook65, Jaie Nuttall 88

Booked: Billy Manners 40, Ryan Golding 71 

Whitstable Town: Shaun Smith, Kieron Morris, Gary Sayer, Sam Groombridge (Adam Douglas 64), Steven Lloyd, Jim Sherman, Gareth Cornhill, Dan Wisker (Clint Gooding 54), Stuart Vahid 61, Ian Pulman, Michael Yianni.
Subs: Scott Heard, Tom Parker

Booked: Jim Sherman 47, Steven Lloyd 79

Attendance: 106
Referee: Mr R A Hyde (London E1)
Assistants: Mr P Rowley (Canterbury) & Mr B Wesley (Dover)