Substitute Khavarn Williams’ second goal for Sittingbourne salvaged an unlikely point on yet another crazy afternoon of Brickies football at The Saffrons home of Eastbourne Town.
When the two sides have met in Sussex in the past few years, the games have been played in some bizarre circumstances – in December 2024, the second half was played with just three floodlights’ working and then last season, the home side won with two penalties after Sittingbourne had defender Ben Swift sent off for making a sensational goal line “save”, meaning the Brickies fans who headed for Sussex were left wondering what they were in store for on this occasion.
Well to say that their hopes started disastrously for these ninety minutes would be an understatement. There were barely ninety seconds on the clock when defender George Rees intercepted an Eastbourne ball forward, but in attempting to get the ball back to keeper Carter Anderson, the full back’s pass was so horribly under hit that keeper Anderson was always going to be second in the race for the ball ahead of Alfie Rogers, who went down under the keepers challenge leaving referee Fitzpatrick a big early decision to make.
After pointing to the spot, there followed a lengthy discussion between referee and his assistant which ended in Sullivan being sent off and huge defender Reiss Greenidge going in goal. Rogers duly dusted himself down and hammered the ball home – continuing the streak of three penalties in his last game and five minutes against the Brickies at the Saffrons.
Incredibly the home side didn’t push on and try to take full advantage which gave Sittingbourne boss Reece Prestedge chance to take stock, and he replaced Rees with Dexter Peter, who then went in goal as Reiss Greenidge resumed his central defensive duties.
Kieron Agbebi was working tirelessly and did really well to help the ball onto Jordan Greenidge who’s first time shot was magnificently blocked.
The game then took another sinister turn just part the half hour, after a melee that appeared to be started by home midfielder Aaron Capon flying into a post challenge between two players looking somewhat annoyed. As the kerfuffle escalated, home boss Jude MacDonald acted very quickly and substituted Capon before the referee could intercede!
Martin Ruda pulled a shot across the face of Porter’s goal when really well placed, whilst in the best move of the first half, Jordoy Mongoy let fly in a rare Brickies attack as the ten men were really holding firm, only for home keeper Chris Winterton to make a fine save.
As the first half drew to a conclusion there was another flash point where D’Sean Theobalds caught a home player with a raised foot which caused consternations in the home dug out with Eastbourne seemingly demanding a card for the Brickies midfielder – who had already been cautioned in an earlier exchange. Thankfully referee Fitzpatrick saw common sense!
Austin Pugh had a great early chance for the home side not long after the break, but Graham’s block was terrific and yet again as the minutes ticked by, Eastbourne testing of stand in keeper Peter increased the disbelief levels – indeed the biggest testing the central defender come keeper had to deal with, was a when a long throw was helped over Peter who was thankful to Jordan Greenidge to thump the ball clear.
Shortly afterwards, the game became even again – in numbers at least for all of two minutes! Another coming together saw yet another discussion between officials which resulted in sub-Arron Hopkinson was shown a straight red card – perhaps belated justice as Hopkinson had replaced Capon immediately after he was “fortunate” not to have received a first half red card. That resulted in yet another coming together which this time resulted in a second Sittingbourne red card – this time for skipper Graham.
Back to a man down, the Brickies went looking for a point as the home side tired badly… Only Reiss Greenidge will know how he didn’t hit the target after Winterton dropped a Joe Boachie free kick on the defender’s boot; a wide, sliced clearance from a defender flew inches over a motionless keeper’s head and into the crowd.
As the time ticked into stoppage time, the Brickies, who have scored so many late goals already this season, struck again to grab a point that in truth the nine men more than deserved.
Jordan Greenidge held the ball up magnificently and his touch found Williams to his left and the substitutes first time control was brilliant as he magnificently salvaged the Brickies a point curling home gloriously around the diving Winterton!
EASTBOURNE TOWN – Winterton, Simmonds, Murphy, Criag, Deda, Hover, Ruda (Walsh), Emberson, Pugh, Rogers (Coleman), Capon (Hopkinson)
Subs – Ovenden, Jenks
SITTINGBOURNE – Sullivan, Rees (Peter), Graham, Theobalds (Dua), Hoyte, Reiss Greenidge, Agbebi (Williams), Boachie. Jordan Greenidge, Mongoy, Foxley (Salmon)
Subs – Anderson
REFEREE – Mr Fitzpatrick