Richie Hamill turned from villain to hero at the Staxson Stadium as his stoppage time piledriver salvaged Sittingbourne’s long unbeaten home record as Hastings United looked poised to take the points back to Sussex. 

Hamill had the golden opportunity to level for the home side early in the second half from the penalty spot but blazed high over the bar after former Brickies keeper Harley Earle had been almost unbeatable on his first game back at the Staxson after leaving the Brickies mid season last year.

Earle denied his former side with a string of extraordinary saves – the best coming early on when a deflected effort from Henry Sinai seemed to loop over him, but somehow the keeper got fingertips to the ball and tipped the ball over the bar. 

Hamill’s penalty miss seemed to spur the Brickies on but with the clock in stoppage time, not even Earle could get anywhere near the midfielder’s drive that arrowed into the top corner to give Sittingbourne the point that at least their efforts deserved. 

The Brickies flew out of the blocks and Earle was instantly called into action as Sinai’s shot was beaten out by the keeper to Hamill, whose shot was blocked and Rio Phipp’s follow-up was handled on the edge of the box.

Hamill’s free kick was brilliantly saved and as Ellis Brown recycled the ball from the right, a desperate defensive clearance saw the ball fly over the Hastings bar. 

Then followed Earle’s save of the night as Sinai’s deflected effort was somehow tipped over before Sittingbourne were stung as what seemed like an aimless ball into the box saw Bruno Tavares deceive Mitch Beeney in the home goal to give Hastings the lead completely against the run of play. 

The goal knocked the home side out of their stride and for the remainder of the half the Brickies huffed and puffed without going close again. 

The second half though began with the home side back on top and Jack Steventon had a drive brilliantly tipped over not once but on two separate occasions. 

Harvey Smith was the next to go close with a header that clipped the bar before Sinai was upended after a driving run into the box, but Hamill’s spot kick was high and wide! 

Just as the clock expired the Brickies suffered another set-back when Smith fell heavily in the box and after treatment was gingerly led from the pitch with a suspected dislocated shoulder to really rub salt into the Sittingbourne wounds. 

But then Hamill gained his redemption and how as he picked the ball up thirty yards out from goal and let fly that not even the inspired Earle could get anywhere near, taking the unbeaten home run in the League to twenty-four. 

SITTINGBOURNE – Beeney, Crowhurst, Hoyte, Phipps (Chiabi), Steventon, Arthur (Burrell), Brown (Robe), Hamill, Smith (Ambroisine), Theobalds (Foxley), Sinai 

HASTINGS UNITED – Earle, Scarles (Taggart), Paye, Gunner, Daniel Hull, Barry (Ball), Legg, Swainston, Tavares, Chapman, Lyons 

Subs – Schulz, James Hull, Lubanga 

REFEREE – Mr. Dempster