Yesterday's Match Reports

Croydon Athletic 1-2 Sittingbourne

Two wins, two defeats in the league and a moral boosting victory in the FA Cup saw Sittingbourne head for the badlands of south London, to take on a Croydon Athletic side who were two points better off in the league, having not lost a game so far this season, writes Tony Ling.

Steve Lovell once again had to shuffle the side which did so well in the FA Cup, with Joe Dowley and Sabeur Trabelsi both suspended, Lee Hockey, Lee Browning and influential captain James Campbell missing through injury, he elected to bring in Tommy Wingrove, Dean Stevens and Steve Searle with all three making their starting debuts.

The game started at a lively pace with both sides scrapping for the ball in a swirling wind.

On five minutes it was Sittingbourne who took the lead, a long ball from the defence found Tristan Knowles, battling hard against the defender, he whipped in the cross which goalkeeper James Wastell could only parry, straight in to the path of Kieren Marsh, who calmly slotted the ball home.

Directly after the restart Knowles gave away a free kick, the kick was taken the Gareth Graham and only a smart reaction save by Steve Williams denied the home side the equaliser.

On ten minutes Sittingbourne had the chance to make it two after the referee gave them a penalty following a hand ball by Paul Scott the Croydon number eleven following good work by Jon Neal, Mark Lovell took the kick, but the goalkeeper guessed the right way, and diving to his right pushed the ball out for a corner.

On thirteen minutes Croydon had another chance but this time the ball just got loose from Gareth Graham and Williams collected with ease

Jon Neal was getting a rough ride from the Croydon defenders having been the target of a number of fouls in the opening twenty-five minutes.

But on thirty minutes Croydon were level through Gareth Graham, the Sittingbourne defence failed to clear loose ball in their own area, the ball fell to Graham who neatly chipped the ball past the leaping Williams and in to the net.

As the half closed it was Sittingbourne who looked the likelier to concede, as Croydon continued to press, a snap shot from Charley Side was well blocked by Williams who held the ball at the second attempt.

Wade Falana, signed from Tonbridge Angels, then tried his luck with a rasping shot, which just narrowly skimmed over the top of the crossbar.

As the teams came out for the second half it was clear that Neal had taken enough punishment from the Croydon defence and was being withdrawn, to be replaced by the clubs leading goal scorer Andy Doer.

After forty nine minutes Sittingbourne were awarded a free kick wide on the right, Steve Searle crossed the ball in to the Croydon box and this was headed behind for a corner by Croydon’s James Gibson, Searle drilled the corner across the box and found Mark Lovell, who returned the ball in to the box, straight on the head of Paul Ainsworth, who headed just over the bar.

The pace of the game was now hotting up, and Croydon’s Charley Side went close on fifty-five minutes just narrowly shooting over with the defence a little static.

On sixty minutes Sittingbourne had a very lucky escape, Charley Side crossed the ball in to the Sittingbourne area and an unmarked Wade Falana threw himself full length to head just wide.

As the pace of the game began to tell on both sides, Croydon made their first substitution with Adolph Amaoko replacing Falana - both former team mates at Bromley.

Sittingbourne now enjoyed their best spell of the game, and seemed to be growing in confidence by the minute; Croydon must have sensed this as on Sixty-Four minutes they made their second substitution, with Danny Cecil being replaced by Julian Curnow.

On seventy minutes Croydon had a great chance to take the lead, Danny Ward fed Amaoko who had slipped in behind the Sittingbourne defence, the shot which followed was magnificently palmed away by Williams and away to safety.

On seventy two minutes Sittingbourne took the lead for the second time in the game, Clint Gooding found Doer, who took the ball and two defenders with him in to the corner, turning, his pass found Mitchell Sherwood, who touched the ball to his right and let fly with a shot that passed between two defenders and the despairing dive of Wastell, to nestle in the bottom left hand side of the goal.

Croydon weren’t finished, as straight from the kick off Curnow headed just wide of the Sittingbourne goal.

On seventy six minutes a mass brawl broke out just inside of the Sittingbourne half following a very rash challenge on Kieren Marsh, which if it had made contact would have surly broken his leg, all twenty two players were involved, sensible refereeing saw Clint Gooding and Gareth Graham find their way in to Mr Rendell’s note book.

As full time approached Croydon threw everything that they had at the Sittingbourne defence, including the keeper who ventured forward for one last corner in the final minute.

Three and a half minutes of injury time just about completed the nerve shredding as far as the travelling supporters were concerned, as referee brought the contest to an end huge grins broke out on the faces of the players and supporters, all of whom knew that they had just beaten a very good side.

A year ago Sittingbourne would have lost this type of game, Steve Lovell is quietly building a good side which has the potential to take on and beat the best sides in this division, it’s now down to the supporters of the town to come and cheer the lads on, and take this club back to where it belongs.

The two teams meet again at the same venue on Tuesday in the Westview cup, and on this performance should result in another cracking game.

Sittingbourne: Williams, Wingrove (Bonneywell), Stevens, Ainsworth, Searle, Marsh, Knowles, Gooding, Lovell, Neal (Doerr 46), Sherwood. Subs: Smissen, Elder

Folkestone Invicta 1-3 Leyton

Folkestone Invicta’s season slumped to a new low on Saturday afternoon when Neil Cugley’s side went down 3-1 at home to Leyton at a sunny Buzzlines Stadium, writes Richard Murrill.

Invicta remain bottom of the Ryman Premier League table without a win in their opening seven matches and having scored just three goals.

Having held new league leaders Bromley to a midweek goalless draw, Invicta had hoped to have used this match to turn the corner, but this latest reverse comes as a major setback to the Folkestone side.

Invicta kept the same starting line up which had battled to a point against Bromley against a Leyton side which had taken their lead on their last two visits to Invicta but which had never beaten the Folkestone side in four meetings.

The visitors had the ball in the net as early as the third minute but an assistant referee’s flag was already up to rule out Leli Bajada’s near post header.

But Invicta started brightly enough as a Stuart Myall shot was charged down in the ninth minute when the ball fell to Matt Carruthers in the box.

Leyton, though, opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Bajada found the net with a low shot after captain Marc Sophocleous had walked through the home defence down the left hand side of the penalty area in a move started by Danny Hill and goalscorer Bajada.

Bajada then shot wide after 22 minutes when a touch from fellow striker Steve West presented him with another chance.

And centre half Scott Honeyball headed against the Invicta crossbar when Emon Protain sent over a corner from the right on the half hour.

But centre forward Ellis Remy missed a good chance for Invicta after 35 minutes when he headed over from close range after a Carruthers ball in from the right.

There were chances at both ends in the closing stages of the first half as Remy won a corner for Invicta and Protain shot over at the far post for Leyton when Hill played the ball up to Bajada in the box.

Honeyball headed over Protain’s corner from the right after 63 minutes and two minutes later the same pair were involved again as Honeyball made it 2-0 when his header went in off the crossbar from another Protain corner, with Bajada there to make sure the ball had crossed the line.

Remy fired wide when Steve Norman played the ball up to substitute Paul Jones after 66 minutes as Invicta sought some kind of lifeline.

And it was 3-0 after 70 minutes when a speculative 25-yard strike from the right hand side from Rio Alderton flow over goalkeeper Tony Kessell and into the far corner of the net.

There was to be some consolation for Invicta when Remy headed in his first goal for the club at the far post when Carruthers sent over a deep cross from the right.

A Mark Saunders shot was deflected for a corner during stoppage time from another Carrutehrs right wing cross in a move started by Micheal Everitt, but there was to be no way back for the home side.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, Norman (Lamb 68), Flanagan, Shearer (Sly 66), M. Everitt, J. Everitt, Myall (Jones 45), Remy, Saunders, Carruthers. Subs: Chandler, Friend.

LEYTON: Hassell, Thanda, Soteriou, Alderton, Honeyball, Hill (Thomas 68), Fazackerley (Tenkorang 77), Bajada, West, Sophocleous (Bunn 81), Protain. Subs: Sifonious, Morgan.

Attendance: 255

Leatherhead 1-0 Chatham Town

After last season's high scoring cup encounter hopes may have been high for another entertaining game against The Tanners, writes Neil Sanders.

However, both sides found their opponents difficult to break down this time.

Chatham's starting line showed just one change with Ross Finn replacing Mark Brooks.

Leatherhead's best chance of the first half came in the 5th minute when John Whitehouse made a good close range block at the near post.

Luke Harvey did well to charge down an attempted clearance which would have given him a clear run on goal, but for the whistle pulling him back for handball.

In first half stoppage time Dan Larkin shot just wide on the turn after the home side had failed to clear from a corner.

Both teams came out with more purpose in the second half. Leatherhead's Julien Thompson made a great run cutting in from the right but none of his colleagues could apply the final touch as the ball flashed across the Chats six yard box.

Chatham then had their best spell of the game with a header from a free kick just clearing the bar and a shot from Harvey which flew wide after a quick free kick involving Darren Smith and Rob Denness.

The only goal came after 57 minutes when a well rehearsed corner routine did the trick for Leatherhead. James Greenaway stepped over an apparent short corner to give Steve Sargent the space to shoot first time into the bottom corner through a crowd of players.

Chats came close to equalising through two Darren Smith free kicks. The first flew inches wide with the keeper stranded, whilst the second forced a fumble which needed a defenders help to clear.

Chatham are at home to Dover Athletic in the Westview Cup on Tuesday evening but have no fixture scheduled for next Saturday.

Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks, Davey (Whitnall 80), Larkin, Goodger, Best, Smith, Pulman, Harvey, Denness, Finn. Subs: King, Lyons

Lordswood 3-2 Beckenham Town

It would be very easy to point out that Beckenham had five first team players absent with suspension or injury but Beckenham Town had enough shine to polish off Lordswood in this Kent Premier encounter on Saturday writes Ian Muir.

The visitors came out of the blocks quickly creating the first opportunity in under 90 seconds when a looped pass from Smith found Danny Harris at the far-post, his first time volley went just wide.

Just three minutes later a defensive howler let Lordswood in and a fierce shot was tipped over the bar by Lewington.

The bumpy conditions did not allow for flowing football so Beckenham were finding the front pair early.

The visitors should have taken a well deserved lead in the 16th minute when Hart carried the ball out of defence and his 25 yard shot skimmed the post.

Beckenham Town were now dictating the game and it was no surprise when Awuha opened the scoring as he jinked his way round the advancing keeper to slot home.

Despite having the upper hand Beckenham gifted Lordswood a free header to pull a goal back through Forster.

Two minutes later the visitors were further behind when a hotly disputed penalty was awarded, which blonde haired Aaron Burrett converted.

Going into the break Sinclair had a powerful header pushed onto the bar by the Lordswood keeper, from the resulting corner Rose headed in only to see his header disallowed for handball, a decision that had everyone in the ground scratching their heads.

The first period had its share of goal-mouth action but Beckenham were staring at another defeat despite having the upper hand.

Beckenham continued to hit it early to the front pairing of Awuah and Carew but it was a scrappy start to the second half.

Within minutes a double substitution was made, Curran and Hawkes replacing Gallagher and the injured Smith.

Within a minute Hawkes skilfully stepped away from his marker turning to cross to Carew who just headed over.

Beckenham Town were nearly caught pushing forward and a last ditch tackle by Sinclair prevented a certain goal.

Again Hart’s shot was pushed round the post. And again another controversial decision by the ref when a header looked as if it had crossed the line only for play to be waved on.

Beckenham, however, paid the price for going forward when they were caught square and Lordswood went further into the lead with striker Mike McKenna scoring.

Beckenham were reduced to ten men when Harris got his marching ordered for a second bookable offence.

There was still enough time for them to get back into the match after Carew beat two players to curl a shot into the bottom corner.

Beckenham then pushed Sinclair up front and his header was cleared of the line. As the final whistle blew Beckenham were on the attack but they simply ran out of time.

Beckenham will ponder the return of their missing players but an overall improvement is needed if Beckenham are to take anything from this season.

Beckenham welcome VCD Athletic to Eden Park Avenue on Tuesday night, 7:30pm.

Beckenham: Lewington, Harris, Sinclair, Rose, Hughes, Hart, Gallagher, Smith, Carter Awuah, Carew . Subs: Hawkes, Curran, Ibrahim, Carter.

Greenwich Borough 2-0 Lordswood