Sevenoaks Town 1-0 Sittingbourne - We needed the win, I think that type of performance has been coming, says buzzing Sevenoaks Town coach Craig Coles

Sevenoaks Town 1 – 0 Sittingbourne
Location	Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5BX
Kickoff	05/11/2025 19:30

SEVENOAKS TOWN  1-0  SITTINGBOURNE
Isthmian League South East Division
Wednesday 5 November 2025
Stephen McCartney reports from Greatness Park

SEVENOAKS TOWN coach Craig Coles says his players are buzzing after claiming a surprise victory over a lacklustre Sittingbourne and wants them to take this performance into the games to come and start climbing the table.

The Oaks went into this Isthmian League South East Division derby on a run of three straight losses but winger Aaron Jenkins’ sixth goal of the season sealed the three points at Greatness Park.

Sevenoaks Town manager Marcel Nimani sent out Coles for post-match media duties, while Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell declined to comment on his side’s third league defeat of the season, that leaves them underperforming in tenth-place with 22 points (six wins, four draws) from their 13 games, which leaves them 11 points adrift of leaders Three Bridges and Faversham Town, who came within seconds of losing to Hassocks at Salters Lane last night, before Tommy Warrilow’s side snatched a last-gasp draw to extend their unbeaten run to 30 League games.

“Really, really positive, really positive. I think that type of performance has been coming,” said Coles, who was without centre-half Tom Hanfrey (hamstring).

“Jersey away (a 1-0 defeat at the weekend) was similar but unfortunately we didn’t quite have the end product when we created opportunities to score.

“I thought first half (tonight) we were exceptional, really, really good, nullified their threats, created numerous chances to score but it sort of felt a little bit like Jersey again at the weekend.

“But credit to the boys, we came out second half, first 20-25 minutes of the second half we was again sort of picking off where we let off and then the last 20 minutes of the game it was just defend, be hard to beat and see out the game.”

Sittingbourne right-winger Jordan Ibe, 29, who made 136 Premier League appearances for Liverpool and Bournemouth earlier on in his career and once moved for £15m, suffered the humiliation of being hooked by Maxwell at half-time after failing to make any impact during this eighth-tier Kent derby.

The only time that Ibe was noticed was when his number seven was put up on the electronic subs board before the start of the second half and was replaced by Darren Foxley, who offered more of a threat and put in some good deliveries.

“I don’t know their decision but from our point of view, I don’t even think it was just him. I think all of their players (didn’t perform in that first half),” said Coles, when asked about Ibe’s awful performance, as he failed to threaten Charlie Dickens, his opponent.

“I think the only player that maybe got a little bit of success against us was Henry (Funsho Sinai).  I mean, we know Henry personally from working with him before, so we knew what he’s capabilities were, so it is what it is. Ultimately for us, we defended well,” said Coles.

The first half was a frenetic, low quality affair, with Sevenoaks Town the better side.

Sevenoaks Town produced a well-worked move and should have taken the lead with 11 minutes and 19 seconds on the clock.

Winger Dadigildo Carvalho started his electrifying run within his own channel and raced down the left wing before crossing the halfway line and once in the final third, Daniel Duncanson and striker Warren Mfula (who was forced off at the interval with a groin injury) linked up before the ball was swept inside to Jenkins.

Jenkins played in right-back Kevon Diomande, who often went to pieces inside the penalty area, drilling his right-footed shot past the near-post when left in space, leaving Nimani screaming in despair.

“I think the big thing for us is we played the better football first half,” said Coles.

“Don’t get me wrong, they’re always going to create opportunities with the quality they’ve got and the way that they play but in terms of actual football, I thought we got back to what we’re good at doing and created numerous chances to be able to get ahead in the game but unfortunately, couldn’t.

Sittingbourne took 21 minutes to create their first opening when holding midfielder Richard Hamil played a left-footed pass into winger Funsho Sinai, who cut inside Diomande before cracking a right-footed drive towards goal from 16-yards, which was comfortably caught by Jordan Perrin at head height.

Sevenoaks Town centre-half Ryan Sawyer played the ball along the deck into Carvalho, who clipped a right-footed pass over the top of Sittingbourne’s centre-half Chris Arthur and Diomande cut inside and decided not to shoot at goal and switched the ball over to the unmarked Jenkins, who hit his shot over the crossbar towards a lone Sittingbourne fan standing in the bushes high above the goal, creating attention on himself by signing on his own.

Sawyer hit another ball out of defence and Carvalho released Diomande down the right once more and after cutting inside his right-footed drive from 16-yards was palmed over the crossbar by Mitchell Beeney’s outstretched left-hand.

“Really good save, really good save by the keeper,” said Coles.

“The boys reacted what we asked, similar to how we played in the first half at Jersey, so it’s good to see the boys showing positive signs and building confidence and hopefully we take that in the games to come.”

The Sittingbourne goalkeeper went down for a tactical injury in the 31^st minute, as both Maxwell and Nimani called over their players to the touchline for instructions – why can’t referee’s realise that the goalkeeper isn’t actually injured, it’s just so managers can get their messages across to their players when things aren’t going to plan.

Sevenoaks Town lacked composure inside the penalty area again when central midfielder Jaden Perez released Mfula down the left channel and he played in Jenkins in behind but the winger drilled his right-footed shot over the crossbar.

Hamill was barged over by Diomande on the edge of the Sevenoaks penalty area and the Brickies came close to grabbing the lead with 37:50 on the clock.

Sinai drilled his right-footed free-kick dipping towards the roof of the net from 20-yards, which was straight down Perrin’s throat, the keeper using his right hand to push over the crossbar in the centre of his goal.

“From where we were standing, the ball was moving all over the place, so I don’t blame him for palming it over,” added Coles.

Maxwell cut a frustrated figure during the entire game as he couldn’t get a tune out of his players for the first 75 minutes of this game.

When asked his thoughts at the interval, Coles replied: “Literally, just go and do the same thing again. It wasn’t really a lot of detail.  The main thing for us was ensuring that we tried to keep possession of the ball, so it also allowed us to have the energy to get in and around their second and third ball when it dropped, which I felt we did for the first 20-25 minutes and then that’s when it sort of became a little bit end-to-end, frantic.”

Sevenoaks Town missed another decent chance just 107 seconds into the second half, as Diomande went to pieces again inside the box, this time down the left and just outside the corner of the six-yard box.

The impressive Jenkins split open Arthur to put in Diomande, who placed his right-footed shot past the foot of the near-post, as another chance went begging.

“He should’ve shot with his left foot,” added a laughing Coles.

“A good chance, again a really good chance.   Like I said before, it’s really good to have Kev back with us. He left us for a short spell and he’s come back recently and he’s a real asset to have in the squad.”

Sevenoaks Town deserved their lead when it arrived with nine minutes and 49 seconds on the clock, following a well-worked counter-attacking move.

Half-time substitute striker Hanson Itauma released Duncanson down the left and he cut inside and sprayed the ball inside to Jenkins, whose right-footed shot on the turn deflected off Arthur and left Beeney flat-footed as the ball nestled inside the bottom left-hand corner.

“Really good build-up, fantastic build-up to the goal. Scored from the edge of the box, it took a deflection and then went in. it was a well-worked move, good combinations and stuff,” said Coles, who was then asked about Jenkins scoring his sixth goal of the season.

“Since he’s come in, he’s been brilliant for us. Fantastic attitude, great work-ethic and he’s got that little bit of quality that we need to create and finish chances when we get them.”

Ibe’s replacement, Foxley, offered more of a threat for Sittingbourne, who created a half-chance when two of their subs linked up inside the final 20 minutes.

Luke Woodward fed Foxley with a 10-yard pass inside the final third and the winger rolled a hopeless shot from just inside the corner of the penalty area which was comfortably picked up by an untroubled Perrin.

Nimani brought on attacking midfielder Cameron Andrews in the 77^th minute but this move backfired on the Oaks, as Sittingbourne seized control for the rest of the game with a dominant performance.

When asked about the momentum shift towards Maxwell’s men, Coles replied: “I think it just got to a point where we ended up sort of counter-attacking of some of the longer balls, which then sort of created a little bit too much space for us and spaces for them to exploit against us.

“I think as the game went on, I just think our boys started to get tired and then the subs that we brought on did a job.

“I think the main thing was the game just became a little bit too open and that didn’t necessarily suit us as the game went on but still defended really, really well.”

Sittingbourne were guilty of a glaring miss, following a set-piece, with 35:35 on the clock.

Foxley floated a left-footed free-kick towards the back post from within the right channel and substitute striker Michael Salako guided his free header straight at Perrin from six-yards.

“Really good delivery, poor defending from us in that scenario but Jordan was there to catch it and save it,” added Coles.

The Brickies’ increased their desire levels and intensity from this moment in the game and it looked like they would score a late leveller but Coles explained why centre-half Jahmal Howlett-Mundle was playing in holding midfield, while Joshua Wisson, who usually plays in that position was playing alongside Sawyer at the heart of defence.

Wisson, 27, put in an outstanding man-of-the-match performance to ensure Sevenoaks Town kept their first clean sheet in 11 games.

“He was fantastic today, showed his leadership qualities, obviously showed the reason why he’s played at this level for such a long period of time and showed his experience, so he was fantastic for us at the back today,” said Coles.

“We wanted Jahmal to sort of be a little bit more proactive in terms of going in and winning those second and third balls and we know how good Josh is on the ball and he allows us to be calm in possession when we try to build up from the back.

“Josh has also got really good long passes on him for us to play in behind should we get pressed so that was basically the plan behind it.

“We always knew they (Sittingbourne) were going to be direct.  I think the big thing for them, although they’re a direct side, when they get the ball in your half of the pitch, in and around the 18-yard box, they’re very, very good at combining and creating opportunities to score or to cross to create a finish.

“So the big thing for us tonight was dealing with that first ball when it came long or over the top but more important dealing with the second, third and fourth ball, to nullify their threats and create more opportunities for us to regain possession.”

Sittingbourne missed another chance to grab an equaliser after Perrin punched away Foxley’s free-kick from the left flank and Jean-Baptiste Fischer volleyed over from 18-yards, as too many visiting attacking players put in awful performances, including Ibe, striker Derek Asamoah, Fischer and Salako, who squandered Sittingbourne's best chance of the game.

Referee Abdulaziz Ollul pulled out a second yellow card and then a red to send off Diomande after clipping Fischer’s heals down the left (44:01).

“Very soft. I think there were other challenges during the game where he’s not given anything and then he’s given two within what? A space of five or 10 minutes. I didn’t really think it was deserved.  It was very soft but it is what it is, take it on the chin and just deal with it,” claimed Coles.

Sevenoaks Town should have doubled their lead inside stoppage time (47:18) when Wisson played a free-kick out of defence, left-back Dickens (who kept Ibe in his pocket during the first half) took a couple of touches on the edge of the box and Andrews had his big moment but swept his left-footed shot straight at Beeney when he should have buried the chance after losing the midfield battle during his cameo role.

“It was a nice bit of movement from Dicko to be fair to get on the ball but just couldn’t quite get the power from the shot from Cam,” came Coles’ reply.

The referee blew his full-time whistle at 54:22 and Sevenoaks Town are now in sixteenth-place (bottom seven) with 16 points (five wins, one draw and nine defeats) from their 15 games.

Adam Woodward brings his Erith Town side here on Saturday, sitting one place lower, having picked up 15 points from 15 games after drawing 3-3 at Ashford United last night.

Sevenoaks Town are four points clear of the relegation zone – and only 10 points adrift of the play-offs and fifth-placed side Herne Bay - after this surprise yet deserved victory over Sittingbourne tonight.

“We needed the win. It’s been coming the last couple of weeks, so it’s a positive one for the boys and hopefully we can kick on,” said Coles.

“Erith will be a tough game. It will probably be a similar game to today. Ultimately, if we came out and play like we did today, with the quality that we did on the ball and the good work that we did off the ball, then there’s no reason why we can’t beat anyone.

“We’ve beaten Sittingbourne and we’ve beaten Faversham (2-1 away in the Kent Senior Cup last month) this season, so we know what we’re capable off and we know how good the group can be.  It’s just a case of us being consistent and finding a little bit of form to get us up the table a little bit.

“I mean, our aspirations will always try to get in and around those play-off spots.  Obviously, the club got the record amount of points last season and that’s something that we want to try to get to again and break if we can.

“I know it’s been a good start to the season and we’ve had a little bit of a blip now but the hope is that we push on again and get up to those play-off places.”

Meanwhile, building work on the new community sports pavillion, with a balcony with about 20 seats, press seating and wheelchair spaces, costing £2.1m, has begun at Greatness Park.

The facilities will feature modern changing rooms, a kitchen, gym, cafe and refreshment areas.

Sevenoaks Town chairman Paul Lansdale said in a statement: “It’s massive for us and really exciting. It has taken us 11 years to get to this stage, so a major step forward – not only for the club but also for the town.”

Coles added: “It’s fantastic what the club will have hopefully come September time in the new season, will be fantastic. 

“There won’t be many clubs with the facilities that we’ll have in terms of the changing rooms and the club house and the gym and stuff like that, so it’s a really positive step for the club and the community and all of the young players at the club.”

Sevenoaks Town: Jordan Perrin, Kevin Diomande, Charlie Dickens, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Ryan Sawyer, Joshua Wisson, Dadigildo Carvalho, Jaden Perez (Ayomide Majekodunmi 86), Warren Mfula (Hanson Itauma 46), Daniel Duncanson (Jed Borders 88), Aaron Jenkins (Cameron Andrews 77).
Sub: Tommy Taylor

Goal: Aaron Jenkins 55

Booked: Joshua Wisson 80, Kevin Diomande 83, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle 90

Sent off: Kevin Diomande 90

Sittingbourne: Mitchell Beeney, Gavin Hoyte (Jaden Crowhurst 68), Bagasun Graham, Richard Hamill (Ayman El-Mogharbel 52), Jack Steventon, Chris Arthur, Funsho Sinai (Michael Salako 60), D’Sean Theobalds (Luke Woodward 60), Derek Asamoah, Jean-Baptiste Fischer, Jordan Ibe (Darren Foxley 46).

Attendance: 297
Referee: Mr Abdulaziz Olol
Assistants: Mr Dylan Wood & Mr Darren Kempson