Erith Town 0-3 Sittingbourne - Gavin Hoyte's ok, I had a good chat with him after because those sort of things shouldn't be in life, let alone football, says Sittingbourne manager Reece Prestedge

Erith Town 0 – 3 Sittingbourne
Location	Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ
Kickoff	17/03/2026 19:45

ERITH TOWN  0-3  SITTINGBOURNE
Isthmian League South East Division
Tuesday 17 March 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Bayliss Avenue

SITTINGBOURNE manager Reece Prestedge insists racism shouldn’t be in life let alone football after Gavin Hoyte was targeted towards the end of this awful Isthmian League South East Division football match.

The Brickies’ remain in fourth-place in this eighth-tier division with a professional performance at Bayliss Avenue, scoring from three of their five attempts on target.

Second striker, Derek Asamoah, 44, pounced on a blunder from Dockers’ 22-year-old goalkeeper Harrison Firth to give Sittingbourne a first-half lead.

An emphatic strike from Asamoah – for his eleventh goal of the season – doubled their lead before centre-half Ben Swift headed in a corner but this football match will not live long in the memory for those that attended it.

“It was just a really good professional performance today to be fair,” said Prestedge.

“It took a while to get into the game but once we got our foot on the ball and we moved it and we stretched them a little bit. At the same time, I thought we controlled it very well.

“We fully deserved to go 1-0 up. I think we worked hard, limited them to not much and we sort of grew as the half went on.”

Erith Town manager Aaron Jeffery declined a post-match interview when asked for one whilst he was sitting in the clubhouse, saying “I’m not doing one,”  but his coach Nathan White put himself forward for post-match media duties.

“Disappointing, obviously. I’ve only been in the club a month or so and it’s been a tough ride for the players,” said White.

“I started off with Three Bridges and Leyton Orient (London Senior Cup) and since them in the League it’s been quite positive performances. I thought it was a step back tonight.  Not against who we were playing, I thought Sittingbourne were a very good side and well worth their League position at the moment.

“But the players have set themselves some really high standards and I think we’re all aware they dropped below these standards tonight.

“It was bitty, end-to-end, probably what I’ll describe as a typical non-league game and when you play like that and it’s about moments and they had their moments.”

The crowd of 131 were in Thamesmead to be subjected to the ball spending most of the 102 minutes (and 73 seconds) in the air, as bottom-five side Erith Town didn’t provide any evidence that they can break out of relegation trouble during their last eight games.

Long ball after long ball was punted out of defence and in the air and eight-goal striker Albie O’Mara Knapp brought it down and under control before setting up left-winger James Dyer, who lacked composure just inside the box and sent his right-footed half-volley looping over the crossbar as the direct home side created an opening after only 199 seconds.

“I haven’t worked with Dyer very long but he’s definitely someone with quality and he’ll be the first one to say he should’ve done better with that,” admitted White.

“He is someone who creates goals and scores goals, so I know he’s another player who’s gone below his standards tonight but it’s up to us as staff and up to him as an individual to understand that and accept that.”

Hoyte cut in and rolled the ball to Sittingbourne left-back Antonio Gibson (who wasn’t pressed) and he drilled a low pass out to left-winger Funsho Sinai, who easily cut inside Dyer outside the box before drilling his right-footed angled drive towards goal, which was comfortably gathered in Firth’s midriff down on his knees (6:01).

Erith Town were showing plenty of desire during the first half but they lacked quality in both penalty boxes and their direct approach will certainly not bring in the punters, with the ball spending most of the game up in the air.

When asked whether his side – on the back of three League draws - were ‘too direct’, White replied: “It depends on what you define as ‘too direct’?

“The ball was in the air all night!” – came my response.

White continued, “Probably. It was very much a game like that. Second half, when we went 3-0 down, we probably gave them too much respect and let them pass the ball around a little bit but we’re not a group of individuals that are built for that style but I appreciate why the players did that because probably (the) fear of losing a little bit, the situation that were in.

“But again, it’s up to us as staff to correct that and give them belief what we’re trying to do, not just to play pretty football, so to get us out of the situation that we’re in.”

Sittingbourne were gifted the lead, with 27 minutes and 26 seconds on the clock, courtesy of a blunder from Firth.

Gibson comfortably skipped past Dyer (who made no attempt to tackle his opponent inside the Dockers’ half) and Gibson ran into space within the left channel before floating over a deep cross with his left boot.

The ball sailed towards the top far corner and Firth raised both of his arms and allowed the ball to slip through his hands and the ball dropped down and often high Dockers’ left-back Olueadamilola Oluesi had a chance to clear his lines inside his own six-yard box but didn’t accept the lifeline and allowed Derek Asamoah to pounce and sweep his right-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner, much to the delight of the vocal travelling fans behind the goal.

“That’s what Derek’s paid to do, he’s a fox in the box (with) chances and he was there to pounce,” said Prestedge, who was asked about his side’s first half performance.

“I don’t think it was a cagey affair. Both teams were trying to stamp their authority on it and it just took a while for both teams to grow into it. I think.  Once we did, I thought we looked pretty good.”

White added: “Harry’s been brilliant since I’ve come in and we spoke to him recently about coming for crosses and he’s come for one tonight and it’s slipped through his hands.

“He probably feel like he should do better with the second and the third one but it wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination and it probably put into their hands a little bit, if I’m honest.”

Dyer, who drilled three free-kicks into the Sittingbourne penalty area in the first half, saw one of them cleared out to Calum McGeehan, who cracked his right-footed shot on the turn over the crossbar from within the D.

Erith Town had all 11 players inside their own penalty area for Sittingbourne’s second of four corners in the 35^th minute.

Gibson swung the ball in from the right with his left-foot and the ball was headed away to Jaden Crowhurst, the quiet right-winger hitting his shot sailing past the top of the right-hand post.

“I don’t remember Harrison making many saves other than (letting in the three) goals.  It’s kind of been the theme really. We’re not conceding great goals, no-one’s cutting us apart.  It’s just moments in both boxes and it’s something that we need to fix (at training) on Thursday,” added White.

The people inside the stadium hoped for better football from both sides during the second half as both side’s brought Sunday League standard football to the eighth-tier.

Both were asked their thoughts at the interval.

White said: “We tried to do some tweaks both in and out of possession and I think the players will be the person to say that it didn’t quite go to plan, partly because of style, partly because of the players but when you concede an early goal in the second half, it makes it really difficult from there.”

Prestedge simply added, “Pretty much just go out there and go into the second half, (the way you did) finish the first half off.”

Jedd Hobbs, who covered plenty of grass, drilled his left-footed half-volley past the near post from 25-yards, as Erith Town created an opening after only 76 seconds into the second half.

Sittingbourne doubled their lead with a composed finish, with 10 minutes and 58 seconds on the clock.

Left-winger Sinai cut into the middle of the pitch – close to the centre-circle – and played a lovely through ball to put in Derek Asamoah, who emphatically drilled his right-footed shot into the roof of the net in a one-v-one dual with Firth.

“Those are the areas you want Derek to be in to be fair. We work on stuff like that and I think it came off really well,” said Prestedge, who has now won 13, drawn five and lost only two of his 20 games in charge of the club.

“Henry’s come inside, lifted it around the corner and Derek’s made a great run.”

White added: “He took it well. He took it really well, nice and composed and we probably wasn’t set because of the amount of transitions in the game. We wasn’t really set to deal with that, so yes it was a bit of a freak one. Again, probably one that we’ll need to look at on Thursday.”

Sittingbourne notched their third goal of the night, with 18 minutes and 30 seconds on the clock, following their third flag-kick.

Gibson swung in a quality delivery with his left-foot from the right towards the back post where Swift buried his header into the left-hand corner of the net.

“We know we’re a threat from set-pieces. I’d probably like more goals, if I’m honest, from set-pieces because we are a real threat – but look, 3-0, I’m happy,” added Prestedge.

White added: “Whenever you concede from a corner, you’re always looking at who was marking him. 

“Again, I know Harrison’s disappointed with that one as well but you go back to the same scenario, be better in both boxes.”

Erith Town’s best chance of the game actually came from a sweeping move – keeping the ball on the deck – with 15 minutes remaining.

Substitute winger Ethan Okechukwu and Hobbs both linked up outside the penalty area before the ball was slipped through to Dockers’ right-back Malachy Turner, who rolled his shot across keeper Jamie Grossart and past the far post while under pressure from Swift’s last-ditch, last-man tackle.

See, keep the ball on the deck and create your best chance – instead of playing like Dog and Duck United in the local Sunday League because that brand of ugly football ends in relegation.

“That’s what we’re trying to instil the belief into the players because since I’ve been here, we have played some, what we call pretty football and we’ve created chances from it, so its just giving those players the belief in training on Thursday.”

Derek Asamoah (who was seen to outpace several Erith Town players during the game despite being the oldest player on the pitch) was to be denied a hat-trick (42:34) – by which point he was on the pitch at the same time as his son, Zayshaun – but Firth made a comfortable save.

Swift drilled a long left-footed ball out of Sittingbourne’s defence to release substitute left-winger Darren Foxley in the channel and he cut the ball back to the number 10, who drilled his low right-footed shot towards goal and Firth dived to his left to hold.

“Derek was hungry for a hat-trick and that was his last part of the game but look, he gave us everything and he came away with two goals,” said Prestedge.

White added: “Harrison’s a good goalkeeper mate. He was reluctant to come off his line when I first came in and we spoke to him and I think he’s been brilliant coming for that.

“Again, it’s just moments. One slipped through his hand, he’s got caught under for another one and I think he’ll be disappointed with the second one.  He hasn’t come and made the angle tighter but it’s something that we’ve got to work on.”

Erith Town knocked the ball out of play just beside the main stand at Bayliss Avenue and Sittingbourne right-back Hoyte was about to take a throw-in (with right-sided centre-half Jack Steventon close by).

However, before the throw could be taken, it was obvious that something was said as the referee came over and Hoyte, 35, explained what had happened and Hoyte pointed out the culprit, who was standing less than two yards away from the defender at the time of the criminal act.

Referee Harrison Clark was spotted making a note inside his black notebook after speaking to Hoyte and the official then went over to the other side of the pitch to discuss the incident with the two managers.

The Erith Town chairman spoke to Hoyte in front of the players’ tunnel following the final whistle and the incident will be included in the referee’s report.

Sittingbourne released a visual interview with their manager on Wednesday morning and revealed the culprit was a "young lady."

Both Prestedge and White were asked about the incident during the post-match press conference.

Prestedge said: “I won’t say too much about (it).  I think something inappropriate was said and fair play to Gav.  Look, he wanted to carry on. He wanted to play on through it and we sort of, let’s leave it at that.”

When asked what the referee said when he came over to the dug-outs, the Sittingbourne manager replied: “He just said about the incident and made us aware and I’m sure the referee will take control (of) it.”

When asked about the wellbeing of his abused player, Prestedge replied: “Gavin’s ok, Gavin’s ok. I had a good chat with him after because those sort of things shouldn’t be in life, let alone football.”

White simply replied: “I’m not talking about that! I wasn’t over there. I was on the wrong side of the pitch. I can’t talk about that!”

Erith Town issued the following statement at 11:06 on Wednesday morning.

“Erith Town Football Club were made aware of an unacceptable spectator incident last night towards the end of the game with Sittingbourne.  This was dealt with quickly and efficiently by the match official and the club.

“We would like to apologise to Sittingbourne and the player involved in this.  Erith Town, as a club, from the first team and through our youth teams have a zero tolerance policy towards any racial or discriminatory abuse.

“We will wait for the referee’s report and completing our own investigations before making any further comment."

Sittingbourne then issued the following statement at 11:21 on Wednesday morning.

“Sittingbourne Football Club acknowledges the statement issued by Erith Town Football Club following last night’s fixture.

“We recognise that the incident was addressed swiftly by both the match officials and Erith Town, and we thank them for their prompt action. We also note their apology and their clear commitment to a zero-tolerance stance on all forms of racial and discriminatory abuse.

“We stand firmly by our player, Gavin Hoyte, and are working closely with both Erith Town and The FA, providing all available footage to support their ongoing investigation.

“Such behaviour has no place in football or in society. It is essential that clubs continue to stand united in challenging and eliminating it from the game.

“The club will be making no further comment at this time.”

The Dockers created one opening deep inside stoppage time when substitute striker Harry Taylor drilled in a low shot, which was blocked inside the box and Dyer summed up the quality on the match by steering his left-footed shot past the near-post from a tight angle instead of choosing the better option.

Prestedge was asked about the condition of his goalkeeper Jamie Grossart, who took a bang to the head after plucking a high hanging cross out of the air deep into stoppage time.

“He’s alright, he’s alright. He took one to the jaw more than the head but he’s fine. He said to me that ‘he’s good.’  He’ll probably have a jaw ache in the morning.

“Clean sheets are massive especially this time of the year.  Clean sheets is what you need to build on.

“(I was pleased with) how composed we were on the ball. We’ve been missing that of late and I think we built up play really well in large periods.”

Sittingbourne welcome managerless Herne Bay to Woodstock Park on Saturday.

Chairman Matt Barman has taken over the Winch’s Field side after Liam Friend’s recent departure and the side have beaten East Grinstead Town (4-1) on Saturday before losing 3-1 at Beckenham Town tonight.

Herne Bay – who have been linked with former Tonbridge Angels, Carshalton Athletic and Cray Valley boss Steve McKimm – sit in eleventh-place in the table with 47 points (13 wins, eight draws and 14 defeats).

Faversham Town claimed a 4-0 win over Crowborough Athletic in East Sussex tonight to return to the top-five.

Champions-elect Three Bridges have picked up 84 points from 35 games) and the four sides in the play-offs are AFC Croydon Athletic (76 points from 35 games), AFC Whyteleafe (72 points from 35 games), Sittingbourne (66 points – 19 wins, nine draws and seven defeats) and Tommy Warrilow’s Lilywhites on 65 points from 35 games, two points clear of Jersey Bulls.

“It’s a rivalry, it’s another game that we’ve sort of got to chalk off. I’m a massive believer that your home games should be your maximum points,” said Prestedge, who has seven League games remaining and welcomes 10-goal Jean-Baptiste Fischer back to training on Thursday night.

“We’re just going to keep going, take it game by game, that’s it.  Look the run (of losing two games, his second coming at the weekend, losing 2-0 at Eastbourne Town) is only as good as how you end the season to be honest.

“We want to be in the play-offs, so I’ll let you know how we are at the end of the season.

“Literally, I will just take each game as it comes and tick them off. I’m not going to give a points (target) or anything like that because I think it sets you up for something that you don’t need – but we want to get as many points as we can.”

Erith Town, meanwhile remain in a precarious position, especially as both Hassocks (4-2 winners at Broadbridge Heath) and Beckenham Town won tonight, while VCD Athletic were held to a 2-2 draw away to already relegated side East Grinstead Town.

Hastings United (39 points from 35 games) and Erith Town (34 points – 8 wins, 11 draws and 15 defeats) sit above the dreaded line.

Hassocks (32 points from 35 games), VCD Athletic (29 points from 35 games), Beckenham Town (27 points from 34 games) gave their survival chances a shot in the arm tonight, while East Grinstead Town’s six points from 35 games is simply embarrassing!

Erith Town, meanwhile, travel to seventh-placed Deal Town on Saturday and need to start performing much better than what they did tonight if they are to make it a third season in the Isthmian League.

“It’s going to be tough. We played Deal last week (drawing here 1-1), We’ve got to go there with full belief. We’ve got no choice now and I fully believe this squad is good enough to get out of the situation that were in and hopefully push on for next season as well," said White.

“We’ve just got to concentrate on what we do. If we don’t win games, we’re going to get relegated. If we win games, we should put ourselves in a good position. We can only focus on us, whatever Hassocks, VCD, whoever’s down there, we have no effect. We can only effect on what happens on the training pitch and whatever happens on a Saturday afternoon.

“How do we stay in the Isthmian League? Winning games of football. Players in the group trusting they are good enough. We all believe we’re good enough, buying into each other and the culture we’re building because the dressing room’s great. It’s really good.

“I really enjoy being (here).  The staff and the players have been so welcoming. I generally believe that the squad is more than good enough to stay up. It’s just about moments in games, in both boxes."

Erith Town: Harrison Firth, Malachy Turner, Oluwadamilola Oluesi, Lea Dawson (Richie Atkins 53), Elliott Wenham, Calum McGeehan (Jerome Jayaguru 67), Andrew Dythe (Ethan Okechukwu 58), Jedd Hobbs, Albie O’Mara-Knapp (Harry Taylor 58), Bertie Valler (Brandon Bakunda-Hatiga 67), James Dyer.

Booked: Jedd Hobbs 50

Sittingbourne: Jamie Grossart, Gavin Hoyte, Antonio Gibson, Luke Woodward (Richard Hamill 78), Jack Steventon, Ben Swift, Funsho Sinai (Darren Foxley 69), D’Sean Theobalds, Mitchell May (Harvey Smith 74), Derek Asamoah (Nile Nguidjol 89), Jaden Crowhurst (Zayshaun Asamoah 82).

Goals: Derek Asamoah 28, 56, Ben Swift 64

Booked: Antonio Gibson 39

Attendance: 131
Referee: Mr Harrison Clark
Assistants: Mr Stephen Hughes & Mr Kennedy Kikulwe
Observer: Mr John D’Arcy