Sittingbourne came from a goal down to claim three points at Merstham in the Isthmian South East, giving boss Reece Prestedge a belated birthday present as courtesy of Darren Foxley’s stunning strike, the Brickies unbeaten start under their new boss continues.

After Lee Lewis had screamed home a free kick that moved all over the place on Brickies keeper Jamie Grossart, Joe Boachie netted for the fourth game running before midway through the second period, Foxley cut in from the right and gave keeper Rob Tolfrey no chance with a shot that arrowed into the top corner as the Brickies made it twenty five points out of a possible twenty seven to end 2025!

Former Sittingbourne man Eman Robe went close to give Merstham the lead inside the opening minutes shooting a yard wide. Boachie had Sittingbourne’s first chance as he blazed over when well-placed shortly before the home side took the lead. Merstham were awarded a free-kick and whilst Lewis’s strike for good, keeper Grossart was left disappointed to concede as the ball moved almost all over Surrey before hitting the net.

The Brickies needed a response and got on as a corner from Richie Hamill wasn’t dealt with and Boachie was quickest to react as he prodded home his sixth goal since returning to the Staxson Stadium in early November. 

Hamill forced a good save out of keeper Tolfrey before Foxley drove inches wide after a brilliant move involving the ever-green Derek Asamoah and Boachie whilst Olu Lawal went close for the home side as he cut in from the wing.

Lewis will be disappointed not to have tested Grossart early in the second period as he fired over, whilst the Brickies keeper had to be at his alert best to keep out Robe’s low drive as he took advantage of a poor clearance from a former colleague.

The home defence were left in Asamoah’s wake in a storming run, but the 44-year-old was eventually denied by a last-ditch block. The visitors were to finally get in front just past the hour – Foxley picked the ball up wide on the right from Jean-Baptiste Fischer’s ball as he cut inside and curled an absolute gem into the top corner beyond a helpless motionless Tolfrey.

The Brickies were well on top and should have really sealed the points, Fischer’s flick was somehow kept out from Hamill’s corner and Gavin Hoyte blazed over after Boachie’s shot was blocked.

Merstham still had hope as only a goal behind but they couldn’t get through the Brickies back-line with Ben Swift on his full debut and playing his first competitive ninety minutes in nearly two-and-a-half years, absolute majestic alongside Jack Steventon, and it was fitting that Swift was to make the brilliant block that sealed the points for Sittingbourne after Grosshart had made a tremendous save to deny Lawal.

MERSTHAM – Tolfrey, Khinda, Ashburn (Pointing), Drage, Djadja, Henry, Lewis (Oram), Lawal (Johnson), Robe, Hamilton-Downes (Abdulazeez), Allen

SITTINGBOURNE – Grossart, Hoyte, Graham, Hamill, Steventon, Swift, Foxley, Theobalds, Derel Asamoah, Fischer (Woodward), Boachie (Smith)

Subs – Zay Asamoah, Crowhurst

REFEREE – Mr. Olol

Images courtesy of Paul Golding