Sittingbourne’s love affair with the Isuzu FA Trophy continued on Saturday with a thumping six-one win in this season’s Second Qualifying Round in the Sussex Downes as Isthmian League South East new-boys Crowborough Athletic were on the wrong end of a pulsating display by the visitors. 

The Brickies who reached the last eight of the “FA Cup for Non-League clubs” were two-nil up inside the first eight minutes – through Jack Steventon and Derek Asamoah – and never looked back.

The returning Jean Baptiste Fischer glanced in the third just before the break and despite the home side pulling a goal back at the start of the second period through Rushaar Samuel, goals from Richie Hamill, Eman Robe and Ellis Brown sent the Brickies flying into Monday’s Third Qualifying Round draw. 

Sittingbourne were in front from the games first attack – a Hamill corner fell to Steventon who drilled the ball beyond Charlie Holmwood and into the bottom corner of the home net. 

One-nil quickly became two-nil as the returning Fischer who was magnificent throughout, interchanged brilliantly with 44-year-old Asamoah, who was making his Sittingbourne debut, to “head” home on all fours from nearly on the goal line.

The energy showed by the Brickies new striker was incredible and was simply part of a sensational first half display. Henry Sinai shot just over; Fischer himself curled an effort just too high; Steventon flashed an effort across the face of goal; Asamoah was denied a second with a low drive that went inches wide, before just before the break, from a delightful Hamill free-kick, Baptiste ghosted in front of Steventon to glance home number three. 

Samuel’s super low drive in the opening minute after the break caught the Brickies cold but there wasn’t really any panic amongst the visitors ranks, as they upped the tempo again and arguably the move of the game came when Sinai’s deep cross was helped on by Baptiste to Asamoah back to Baptiste and wide to Jaden Crowhurst who’s first time drive fizzed just over the top. 

It was soon four-one however, as Hamill received the ball back from a corner and flighted a curler to the back post that went all the way into the net. Four became five when substitute Robe hit an absolute screamer into the top corner beyond a luckless Holmwood who really must have wondered who he had upset as the Brickies finishing had been incredible. 

The young keeper made a really good save to keep out Robe’s shot whilst Rio Phipps was unlucky to hit the side netting after great combination between Sinai and Ellis Brown. Brown though, was to have the last word and he crashed home number six in stoppage time after racing onto Phipp’s through ball. 

Six of the very best for the Brickies and onto another stage in their favourite Cup competition. 

CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC – Holmwood, Goldsmith (Mayhew), Reed (Turner), Buddy, Ajami, Pring, Pearson, Lambden, Samuel, Forster (Muggeridge), Aiyelabola (Ajad) 

Sub – Killick 

SITTINGBOURNE – Beeney, Crowhurst, Hoyte, Hamill, Steventon, Arthur (Ambroisine), Sinai, Theobalds, Fischer (Robe), Asamoah (Brown), Foxley (Phipps) 

Sub – Parish 

REFEREE – Mr. Wootten

Images courtesy of Grace Joines