Molesey 1-5 Sittingbourne

Sittingbourne don't often score five goals so I looked back in the records to see when they last achieved that feat and when they last won by 4 clear goals, writes Peter Pitts.

The answers are : last time Sittingbourne scored 5 goals was 29th September 2004 away to Aveley, last 4 clear goal win was13th December 2003 away to Corby Town.

It certainly seems that Sittingbourne do better with these types of performance away from home, which is a shame as they have two home games left!!

This was a competent performance by Sittingbourne and they were never in much danger of losing. Molesey were fresh from scoring 5 goals themselves as they defeated Cray Wanderers in midweek by 5 goals to 3 so this really was an excellent Sittingbourne performance.

In addition to the 5 goals Sittingbourne also hit the woodwork twice.

The match had a couple of controversial moments both to the detriment of Molesey.

Firstly on 42 minutes when Mark Lovell made his way into the Moles area only to be tripped and referee Mr Haines awarded a penalty, secondly on 51 minutes Moles player / manager Steve Beeks was red carded for swearing at the ref following a Mark Lovell foul.

Molesey were already 3 goals down and there was to be no way back with just ten men.

Sittingbourne took the lead on ten minutes when Anthony Hogg picked up a poor clearance and sent back a first time shot that gave Moles keeper Chuck Martini no chance.

Just before that Molesey had a great chance to take the lead themselves but Phil Ruggles shot from a corner sailed over the Brickies bar.

Sittingbourne then took a grip on the game which they never really lost. Sabeur Trabelsi has added plenty of enthusiasm to the team play and on the half hour Kieran Marsh found him with a cross field pass.

Trabelsi made ground on the right and it looked as though he would pass inside but instead he took the ball almost to the bye line and let fly with a shot that bounced off the post.

Trabelsi then had another effort, this time from a free kick but Martini blocked the shot.

Three minutes before half time Mark Lovell ran through the Moles defence only to be tripped.

The job of penalty taker for Sittingbourne has changed hands many times because of a high number of misses, Lee Browning was the last one to miss so the role this time fell to defender Joe Dowley who hasn't managed to get on the score sheet this season.

If this seemed a strange choice Dowley dispelled all doubts as he sent Martini the wrong way and slotted home a perfect penalty to put Sittingbourne two up.

Molesey briefly rallied with a shot well over from Ruggles.

Deep into first half injury time Browning set up a shot for Trabelsi that deflected to Lovell who then blazed just wide.

Browning was in action again this time rushing down the left, Sherwood anticipated the next pass and made a great run to pick up the ball and he fired past Martini for number three.

There was almost a sensational start to the second half as Martini completely miss -read a back pass that trickled towards his goal, Dowley had spotted what might happen and although he just beat Martini to the ball Dowley could only stab the ball against a post.

On 51minutes Lovell went up for a header with Chris Wales, Wales coming off worse. This upset the Molesey players and Beeks was dismissed for his tirade at the ref.

The heat and being a player down meant a difficult job had just got even harder for Molesey and Sittingbourne tightened their grip on the game.

A neat one- two ended in a great chance for Kieran Marsh but Marsh had left his shooting boots at home today and his shot curled well wide.

Marsh had another go five minutes later but again he couldn't find the target.

It was all Sittingbourne now. Toby Ashmore found Browning who had a shot held by Martini at the second attempt.

Molesey had a rare foray into the Sittingbourne half when Richard Thompson burst through but Ashmore did just enough to put him off and his shot was well held by an underworked Steve Williams.

Dowley decided that if he can score one goal he can score more and he did well to set himself up with a chance but his shot was poor.

The game was now in a stage where both teams were wilting in the heat.

Trabelsi then had another shot that must have damaged a roof tile on a house some 70 yards behind the goal.

It was no coincidence that three goals came in the last 10 minutes as Sittingbourne found it easier to get through with Molesey's ten men rapidly tiring.

On 84 minutes a Jon Neal shot bounced off a defender to Trabelsi who from an unmarked central position stabbed in number four.

Four minutes later a long crossfield ball found Browning who drilled in number five.

Molesey then at last scored themselves when with a minute to go fresh legs in the shape of Jamie Lee Smithers broke away and although Williams managed to block his first shot Smithers fired the rebound into the Brickies net to give the home side some consolation. .

Sittingbourne: Williams, Ashmore, Dowley, Ainsworth, Hockey, Marsh, Hogg, Trabelsi, Lovell (Neal 51), Browning, Sherwood (Campbell 51), Sub: Willis.