Sittingbourne’s season is over, ending in Play Off heartbreak for the third successive season losing 2-0 at AFC Croydon Athletic.
After losing the two previous campaigns in home defeats, this unwanted “hat-trick” was sealed with two first half goals at AFC Croydon Athletic who when it mattered on the night were bigger and stronger than the Brickies as two first half goals from Josh Williams sent the home side into Friday’s Final.
It was a frustrating night to be a Sittingbourne fan as when their side did get things right, the visitors were either out muscled – Henry Sinai sent crashing into advertising boards by Harvey Kedwell – or were on the wrong end of marginal decisions that could have easily gone their way.
Played on an incredibly uneven surface which was rock hard, it was easy to see how and why both teams adopted early on for the long ball as football through a congested middle of the park was almost impossible to play.
Sittingbourne had the best early chance as a long Jack Steventon throw was diverted towards his own goal by Reece Grant’s head bringing a fine save out of home keeper Amadou Tangara.
Sadly, it was arguably the closest the Brickies were to come all night long! Brickies keeper Rex Porter had a moment to forget as he charged out of his box to clear only hitting thin air – thankfully skipper Bagasan Graham was on hand to clear.
The keeper redeemed himself with a fine save from Williams whilst it was Tangara’s turn to go walkabout as he stands well over six foot four and was nearly embarrassed by the diminutive figure of Derel Asamoah as the Brickies striker came so close to getting in the way of some shocking control.
David Bremang, an early home sub for Grant was then denied by a smart Porter save – the keeper could only have seen his low drive very late through a crowd of players before the home side grabbed the all-important opening goal, which began with two Sittingbourne players and the match referee on the deck following a collision.
Play was allowed to go on, despite all three ending on the floor – the referee was quickly up – and the ball was worked down the right before Williams had the room to drill home.
Now whether or not the Brickies players expected play to be called back is open to question but what is not is that the goal stood.
Darren Foxley went close to an almost immediate equaliser forcing Tangara into a super low save – Foxley was a constant bright light for the visitors tirelessly working the right flank but unable to unlock an increasingly tight Croydon back line.
Both sides then went close as the opening half powered on before the killer second goal arrived nine minutes from half time as the Brickies didn’t lay a glove on a rampaging Luke Dreher as he burst through leaving Williams with the easiest of tasks to slot home number two.
The second half saw the home side forced back, or did they just allow Sittingbourne more of the ball, but the message certainly was we hold what we have and as such despite loads of possession, the final ball and the delivery from set pieces just weren’t there for the Brickies.
And it also must be noted that with Croydon’s maroon coloured kit, there were times when the referee’s black during the second period under the light became very undistinguishable.
The home side resorted to long balls hoping that the strikers may get a chance with Sittingbourne poking and prodding the home back line without any clear chance – Tangara’s handling was almost perfect and the defence in front of him repelled long ball after angled ball.
The Brickies subs did make a difference with Sinai and Joe Boachie working hard in behind Harvey Smith and Mitch May. Sinai’s introduction was met by a very strong-armed challenge from James Dunne which rightly earned the former Ashford man a yellow card but highlighted just the physicality that the home side had over Sittingbourne.
Yet quite how though Sittingbourne didn’t get a late penalty when Boachie was dumped to the ground only the match official knows, but yet in hindsight, it sums the Brickies night up with what might have been…
It’s been a fine campaign for the Brickies and their amazing support who were again evident on Semi Final night and must have composed at least a third of the seven hundred crowd.
It’s been another season of achievement for the Brickies though as they have only lost three League games since Reece Prestedge took over in mid-November, but sadly, the impetus the Club had up to mid-January was severely hammered when Sittingbourne didn’t play for again for a month up to Valentines Day…
AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC – Tangara, Watson, Kedwell, Afrane-Kesey, Grant (Bremang), Thompson, Taylor (Black), Dreher, Williams (Boateng), Pierrick.
Subs not used – Daniel, Colkett.
SITTINGBOURNE – Porter, Hoyte, Graham, Woodward (Hamill), Steventon, Swift, Smith, Theobalds, May, Asamoah (Sinai), Foxley (Boachie).
Subs not used – Morgan, Crowhurst.
REFEREE – Mr. Berry
Main picture supplied by Daisy Browne.