A defiant Erith Town frustrated Sittingbourne and left with a deserved point.  

The visitors who took an unexpected lead when Bertie Valler’s ball into the box found its way through, but Mikey Salako marked his Sittingbourne debut by tapping home from Yannis Ambroisine’s flick-on on the stroke of half time. The home side huffed and puffed during the second period without really testing Harrison Firth in the Erith goal before the visitors nearly stole the points as Dami Olusesi hammered the home cross bar. Firth then somehow kept out Jaden Crowhurst’s cross-shot at the death as both sides had to settle for the draw which will have, pleased neither manager. 

Salako was presented the games first chance when he was inches away from converting Henry Sinai’s great ball into the box, before Firth made a fine save to keep out Darren Foxley’s low drive as the home side dominated for long periods. The returning Troy Howard – back at the Staxson Stadium on loan from Billericay Town – went close with a lob but the home side still struggled against a well-oiled defence that was superbly marshalled by Dexter Peter. 

Erith took a shock lead that rocked the Brickies as the ball fell to Valler on the edge of the box, and he just dinked a ball toward goal that somehow found its way through past an unsighted Mitch Beeney who was incensed and raced to the Assistant claiming two player in front of him in offside positions – referee Beard consulted his assistant and the goal was given. 

The home equaliser was just as contested as from Jaden Crowhurst’s long through, Yannis Ambroisine’s flick bemused Firth and Salako was practically on the goal line to open his Sittingbourne account. But the other assistant’s flag was flying but after consultations again with Mr. Beard, goal given was again the decision. 

The second period was a question of if the home side could find a winner. Salako was aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when seemingly flattened by a shoulder charge from behind. Howard then dispossessed Firth from a back pass who was very luck to then fall on the ball. Salako then escaped from the defence only to send a lob just too high. 

Out of absolutely nothing Olusesi let fly from thirty yards and thumped Beeney’s crossbar before in stoppage time, Crowhurst launched a cross shot with Firth did remarkably well to keep out and ultimately earn his side a point. 

SITTINGBOURNE – Beeney, Crowhurst, Hoyte, Hamill (Asamoah), Ambroisine, Arthur, Howard (Brown), Theobalds, Salako, Foxley (Woodward), Sinai (Robe) 

Sub – Steventon 

ERITH TOWN – Firth, Valler, Dythe, Jayaguru, Peter, Jeffrey (O’Connor), Lewis (McGeehan), Turner, Olusesi, Oluwasemo, Maxime-Samuels (Duncan) 

Sub – Connor 

REFEREE – Mr. Beard