Sittingbourne 0-0 Fleet Town

Sittingbourne finished their season in 10th position after this hard fought draw against play off team Fleet Town on Saturday, writes Peter Pitts.

Although Fleet were already in the play offs before this game they desperately wanted as victory so that they could claim home advantage in their play off match against Tooting & Mitcham.

But it wasn’t to be for them after a stout defensive display by the Brickies that largely restricted Fleet to long range shots.

Backed by a vociferous young support Fleet signalled their intention on 7 minutes when a crashing shot by Phillip John forced a great save from Steve Williams.

Williams was in action again 2 minutes later saving low down from James Field’s free kick.

Fleet were on top in these early stages. A poor back pass led to Williams just getting a toe to the ball but it went only as far as Nathan Smart who blasted wide.

Then another Field free kick flew narrowly wide. Field then a header wide. Sittingbourne were wearing the storm and on 25 minutes Mark Lovell cut inside and in a good position blasted off target.

Fleet responded with a long range shot from Field and then Williams was forced into a diving save. Phillip John was the next to have a shot but Sittingbourne were soaking up the pressure.

Despite the overwhelming superiority in shots Fleet Town could have easily been a goal down at half time when Lee Browning ran through into the Fleet area only to be bundled over but nothing was given.

The second half was a much more even end to end game. On 55 minutes a long Lee Hockey throw was headed narrowly over by Paul Ainsworth.

At the other end Field had a good run down the right and ended the run with a cross that was narrowly missed by the Fleet forwards.

Play continued to see saw backwards and forwards. Anthony Hogg drove a 30 yard shot narrowly over whilst Fleet’s Tony Reid failed to control the ball from a totally unmarked position and the chance was lost.

Sittingbourne actually had the ball in the net on 67 minutes but Lovell was adjudged to have pushed the keeper off the ball.

Good work by Browning then set up another chance for Hogg and this time he looped a good effort just over the bar.

Browning was the most effective of the Brickies forwards and he had a golden opportunity to score on 81 minutes when he burst through the Fleet Town defence but his attempted lob of smith was well read and the Fleet town deflected the ball for a corner.

As the seconds ticked away Nathan Smart struck a shot against the Brickies post but the ball bounced back into the grateful arms of Williams.

Fleet had one last try but Tony Reid blazed over from right in front of the goal and the points were shared.

Sittingbourne: Williams, Ashmore (Neal 51), Dowley, Ainsworth, Hockey, Marsh, Hogg, Trabelsi (Richmond 66), Lovell, Browning, Sherwood (Campbell 76), Subs: Akhazzan, Willis.

Attendance: 202

www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to thank Peter Pitts for sending us his match reports on Sittingbourne - we wish the club well next season