Goals from Darren Foxley and Henry Sinai ensured that Reece Prestedge’s first home game in charge of Sittingbourne ended the same way as the new manager’s first two had in three points for the Brickies.
On a cold Staxson Stadium night, Prestedge looked on as his new charges always had the upper hand against Ashford United in recording a comfortable 2-0 win – a result that leaves the home side just three points off the Play Off places with a game in hand, and leaves Lloyd Hume’s side in the relegation places although the Nuts and Bolts also have a game in hand on teams above them.
On what could yet be a pivotal night in Sittingbourne’s season, the home side bossed the game from start to finish as the side repaid keeper Taylor Seymour for his heroics in Saturday’s win at VCD with a much quieter night in which the Brickies new look back line excelled and repelled nearly everything that Ashford had to offer.
And when the Brickies went forward there was a renewed sense of excitement and purpose which a new manager always seems to bring to a side.
On his second home “debut” for the Brickies, the impressive Joe Boachie went close with a low drive before the home side took the lead. Sinai found Jean-Baptiste Fisher who was only thwarted by a combination of defender and Roshan Greensall in goal, but the ball ran free to Foxley who hammered home into the roof of the net – it was Foxley’s first goal in Sittingbourne colours after an injury blighted start to his Woodstock career.
Boachie was then denied after bursting through three defenders leaving two in his wake and the half ended with Sinai going close after some super interchange between Foxley, Harvey Smith and Sinai.
Despite the home side’s superiority, it was still only a one goal lead and Sittingbourne were so nearly pegged back at the start of the second period.
Lewis Collins broke into the box and as the ball fell to Gary Lockyer, the Ashford skipper got the shot all wrong and as the ball ricocheted across the box, Seymour was able to fall on the ball.
Greensall then saved superbly from Sinai’s drive before the Brickies wide man did net for the third game in a row. Picking the ball up just inside the Ashford half, Sinai jinked past a couple of defenders before letting fly into the bottom corner beyond a despairing keeper to double the advantage.
Sittingbourne were well worth their lead and had chances to extend it – sub-Derek Asamoah twice denied by the keeper before being inches away from converting after Fisher’s shot had been blocked.
It was an emotional night for the Brickies man as for the final eleven minutes, his son, Zashaun joined him on the field in Sittingbourne red following Asamoah Junior’s signing earlier in the day.
SITTINGBOURNE – Seymour, Crowhurst, Fisher, Hamill (Woodward), Steventon, Hoyte, Sinai, Theobalds, Smith, Boachie (Derek Asamoah), Foxley (Zashaun Asamoah)
Subs – Graham, Kenny
ASHFORD UNITED – Greensall, Scarlett, Moses, Hume (Brooke), Dixon (Carney), Lockyer, Collins, Santos, Fuller, Hasler, Penn
Subs – Brooks, Taylor, West
REFEREE – Mr. Phillips.
Pictures supplied by Paul Golding.