Two moments of individual brilliance sent AFC Croydon Athletic into Monday’s draw sending Sittingbourne out of the Cup. 

After an incredibly tight first half when home keeper Mitchell Beeney made two fine blocks to deny Kardell Daniel and James Taylor. half time sub-Ellis Brown ghosted in to glance the Brickies in front with a deft header which Gavin Hoyte went close to doubling with a diving header moments later. 

Daniel, who was a danger all game to the home side, then magnificently levelled the scores with an angled drive. Both sides had chances to go in front before Reece Grant unleashed an eighty- eighth minute thunderbolt into the top corner to win the tie! 

The home side struggled to carve out a clear chance in the first half as the ball fizzed across the face of the Croydon box whilst at the other end James Taylor was denied by Mitch Beeney’s right boot as Athletic went looking to take the game to their hosts.  

Kardell Daniel was a thorn in the Brickies side all afternoon and went close as Beeney again did very well to deny the Croydon man, before he fizzed a freekick inches too high over the keeper’s bar. 

Sittingbourne made two changes at the break and almost immediately – one of the subs – Brown nipped in and cushioned a header past Amadou Tangara and in off the keepers right post. Darren Foxley, the other sub, then whipped a free kick across the face of goal as any touch would have doubled the Brickies lead. 

Daniel levelled with a thunderous angle drive that gave Beeney no chance as the ball crashed home in off the underside of the cross bar. Taylor should have put the visitors in front shortly afterwards as he shot wide from the edge of the box after a ball was knocked back to him. 

Daniel then had two more flashing drives that flew just past Beeney’s goal as both sides went searching for a winner. Preston Kedwell should really have done better with a shot when well-placed whilst Gavin Hoyte had a diving header – from Richie Hamill’s freekick – bundled wide before Brown was brilliantly denied by Tangara’s flying save. 

Reece’s winner was a goal worthy of winning any game – a 35 yarder that was rising when it beat Beeney flying into the top corner – and took Athletic into the next round and broke the Brickies hearts. 

SITTINGBOURNE – Beeney, Hoyte, Graham, Woodward, Steventon, Arthur, Crowhurst (Brown), El-Mogharbel (Phipps)(Hamill), Chiabi (Foxley), Smith, Theobalds (Isiaka) 

Subs – Ambrosine, Parish 

AFC Croydon Atheltic – Tangara, Savane, Harvey Kedwell, Daniel, Grant, Taylor, Dreher, Dunne, Hand (Kirby), McCarthy (Preston Kedwell), Wynter 

Subs – Bremang, Hall, Kamara, Cheklit, Thompson 

REFEREE – Mr. Burgess 

Images courtesy of Gracie Joines