A solitary goal from Mitch May midway through the second half gave Sittingbourne three priceless points in their pursuit of a South East play-off place. 

May was on hand to touch home his first goal since returning to the club from Jack Steventon’s header from Antonio Morgan’s deep corner. Herne Bay had the better chances in the first half with Eman Robe’s low drive being brilliantly saved by young keeper Rex Porter, before Zaid Al-Hussani skied from ten yards when left alone. 

Steventon had a header off the line and Henry Sinai shot over before the break as the home side responded, and in the second period the hosts dominated, Sinai couldn’t connect from a Gibson free-kick and Darren Foxley by Harvey Brand’s goal-line clearance before May scored the game’s only goal. 

The home side stuttered at the start as they tried to continue from Tuesday’s win over Erith Town, and the Bay enjoyed the best early chances. Former Brickie Eman Robe had a shot superbly saved by young Rex Porter in the home goal after the youngster signed on loan from Bromley as Jamie Grosshart missed out through the concussion injury sustained at Erith. Porter though was helpless moments later as Rushaar Samuel- Smikle’s square ball found Al-Hussaini who blazed high over. 

The home side dragged themselves into the game as Steventon had a header cleared off the line and Henry Sinai shot over after a powerful run by Dsean Theobalds. The half ended with Bay keeper Archie Burford making a strong save to deny Derek Asamoah. 

Sittingbourne were the dominant force after the break with the visitors attacking chances very limited. Morgan’s free kick dropped into the Bay box, but Sinai couldn’t make a decent contact and the chance was gone. 

Sub Darren Foxley ignited more into the home side, and it was from a Foxley ball into the box that Harvey Brand bailed his side out of trouble with a great header off his own goal-line. 

The goal that the home side deserved arrived with twenty-two minutes left as Gibson’s deep corner was headed down by Steventon for May to touch home. Whether the header had crossed the line is the question but no-one in red and black cared one jot and the goal, the lead and ultimately the points had been secured as the Brickies margin inside the Play Off spots is now five points because of results elsewhere! 

SITTINGBOURNE – Porter, Hoyte, Morgan, Woodward, Graham, Steventon, Sinai, Theobalds, May (Smith), Derek Asamoah (Fischer), Crowhurst (Foxley) 

Subs – Hamill, Zayshaun Asamoah 

HERNE BAY – Burford, Holness (Sutton), Wyborn, Brand, Tyrie, Al-Hussani (McFarlane), Antonio, Samuel-Smikle (Caney-Bryan), Hill (Jeffrey), Robe (Lartice), McCarthy 

REFEREE – Mr. Woodman