Two clinical first half strikes from Mitchell May and Derek Asamoah were enough to send Sittingbourne and Hassocks to final day destiny in the South East division.
The two sides met in the glorious Sussex sunshine and a bumper crowd witnessed an enthralling battle which saw the Brickies move to within a point of the play-offs for a third season in a row.
After the home side started brightly knowing that a win could guarantee their own future, it was Sittingbourne moved into gear first as May headed an awkward bouncing ball straight at home keeper James Shaw. Jack Steventon headed a Darren Foxley corner over the top before the home sides first effort as Zak Henry fired wide.
The Brickies always look threatening in the early stages, and it was to be the visitors who struck the decisive opening goal as May hammered home into the bottom corner after tenacious play from Luke Woodward.
Loud appeals for a home penalty were then waved away by the referee as Sittingbourne broke, Darren Foxley was denied by a brilliant block from Josh Munday. It delayed matters though for just a moment as after exchanging passes with Foxley, Asamoah hammered home his twelfth goal of the season.
Both sides had chances in a fascinating second period – Henry’s free kick was too high for the Sittingbourne net; Foxley tested home keeper Shaw with a fierce drive that the keeper saved magnificently; Joe Bull came within agonisingly close to netting an own goal after May did well to knock down Bagasan Graham’s long ball; Jack Troak shot high and wide for the home side.
Chances kept coming at both ends – Henry showed some wonderful skill stepping inside defenders, but the shot didn’t match what had preceded it; May was inches away from a Brickies third and converting a great ball from Antonio Gibson and right at the death, Brickies keeper Rex Porter pulled off a magnificent save to deny Jamie Wilkes.
The home sides afternoon was complete when Scott Fader received two yellow cards in stoppage time for fouls on Morgan and Henry Sinai which really summed the home sides afternoon up as the Brickies stride towards the post season.
Sittingbourne get the points that make the play-offs ninety-nine percent booked as Faversham Town dropped two points at Sevenoaks Town; Hassocks meanwhile head to the Green Box Stadium next week, knowing its win or bust if they are to put any pressure on Sheppey United in the fight for survival as if the Sussex side win at Homelands, Sheppey will have to win at play off bound AFC Croydon Athletic to stay up!
HASSOCKS – Shaw, Blake (Fair), Munday (Wilkes), Faber, Shroll, Henry, Finney, Benson (Daniel), Troak, Furnell (Davidson), Bull
Sub – Vale
SITTINGBOURNE – Porter, Hoyte, Graham. Woodward (Hamill), Steventon, Swift, Smith (Morgan), Theobalds, May (Crowhurst), Asamoah (Boachie), Foxley (Sinai)
REFEREE – Mr. Maskery