Harvey Smith’s fourth minute header edged a titanic battle as leaders Three Bridges were humbled in the Woodstock mist by play-off chasing Sittingbourne.
In a tough battle which saw yellow cards for both sides and a late red for Bridges talisman Noel Leighton, Reece Prestedge’s side deservedly gained the points and gained revenge for the 2-1 reverse in Sussex earlier in the season to stay in the play-off hunt!
The league leaders simply ran out of ideas as Ben Swift and Jack Steventon repelled long ball after long ball and when they were beaten Gavin Hoyte and skipper Bagasan Graham were on hand for timely clearances as Bridges became increasingly desperate.
The game’s only goal involved arguably the best bit of football in the game as Henry Sinai’s run and cross was helped on by Mitch May for Smith to power home an advantage that in truth the home side seldom looked like losing.
Bridges keeper Sam Roberts was a relieved man to grab Richie Hamill’s free kick as it skidded through the box. And the visitors in some eyes were fortunate still to have eleven men at the break as first Leighton appeared to leave an elbow in a challenge and quite how Reece Wallard wasn’t at least cautioned for a rugby tackle on Sinai only referee Cutler knows.
The leaders huffed and puffed but didn’t look like breaking through and the best chance of the first half was a shot from Hayden Velvick which Hoyte did well to block.
The home side looked to increase their advantage at the start of the second period – Smith’s glancing header missed by inches whilst Sinai hammered home a Richie Hamill free-kick only to be denied by an assistant’s flag.
Leighton who was brilliantly marshalled all afternoon by Swift, had a low drive just wide in which was the leaders closest attempt with Bridges first shot of the second half with nineteen minutes left.
Sittingbourne looked to press home their lead – sub-Erin Kinali crashed a shot a yard wide from May’s touch before a super dummy by the industrious Darren Foxley (from Graham’s pull back) just didn’t roll for the home side.
A miserable afternoon for the visitors was complete when their leading marksman seeing yellow for a second time in the closing stages for a lunge on Hoyte and whilst the home side will have been disappointed not to have secured a second when Kinali and Derek Asamoah combined for the forty-four year old to shoot narrowly wide, the scenes at the final whistle were a Swale joy to behold as a statement win was secured.
SITTINGBOURNE – Grosshart, Hoyte, Graham, Woodward (Kinali), Steventon, Swift, Sinai, Hamill, May (Derek Asamoah), Smith, Foxley (Crowhurst)
Subs – Anthony, Zay Asamoah
THREE BRIDGES – Roberts, Ferreria (Irving), Josh Hallard, Wolard, Bull, Neathey, Leighton, Rivera, Reece Hallard (Villacencio), Velvick, Bennett
Subs – Bryson, Difika, Holden
REFEREE – Mr. Cutler
Images courtesy of Paul Golding