A David Beckham-esque strike from the half way line ensured that Sittingbourne began their home South East campaign with a win following their heartbreak in their last game at the Staxson Stadium as they lost the play-off final on penalties. 

Both Luke Woodward and Jean-Baptiste Fischer missed a large bulk of last season through injury but both have returned to the Brickies fold this campaign as familiar faces in a very unfamiliar side.

Indeed Ryan Maxwell gave home League debuts to five of his starting eleven and two of his five subs whilst opposite number Ben Greenhalgh was able to retain as many as sixteen of last seasons squad and it showed as they were a very well organised unit that the new look Brickies for large periods couldn’t break down. But when they did, in truth there was only ever going to be one winner. 

One of the newbies, Troy Chiabi, was unlucky early on as he was denied by a combination of Gate keeper Tom Wray and a post before the keeper was completely wrong footed as Woodward’s glancing header from Fischer’s pile driver looped into the visitors net. 

If there was any doubt over the first goal, the home sides second was sensational as Fischer won the ball wide on the half way line and see Wray well off his line, hammered the ball goalwards.

The crowd’s noise grew and grew as the ball whistled over a furiously back pedalling keeper and into the net Beckham style from all those years ago. 

The home side comfortably held the Gate at bay, but seconds into the second half, the player manager got his side right back in the game. Taking advantage of hesitancy from keeper Mitch Beeney it was Greenhalgh’s turn to loop the ball into the net and suddenly, it was game-on! 

Margate probed but didn’t look like finding a way through whilst the Brickies attacking their favoured end grew more and more threatening. Jack Steventon’s long throw was cleared to Rio Phipps who re-found the thrower and Steventon curled a beauty towards the top corner only for Wray to brilliantly tip the effort over the bar.  

The chances kept coming for the Brickies; Gavin Hoyte cross from the right was inches too far in front of a lunging Chiabi; Woodward drilled an effort inches past the post from a lovely lay off by Chiabi; sub Ayman El-Mogharbel was denied by a fantastic reflex save from the keeper from almost point blank range. 

Margate had a lot of the ball but didn’t really test Beeney but from the one clear chance they had the Brickies stopper got down really well to palm sub Kieron Agbebi’s effort round the post. 

Six points from six for the Brickies; just one from six for the Gate – for now both turn their attentions to the FA Cup at the weekend.

SITTINGBOURNE – Beeney, Huyte, Graham, Woodward, Steventon, Arthur, Brown (Crowhurst), Phipps (Theobalds), Chiabi (Burgin), Fischer (Foxley), Asiaka (El-Mogharbel)

MARGATE – Wray, Knight, Hudson, Walters (Agbebi), Blackman, Olutade, Derry (Atkins), Greenhalgh, Davey, Oke, Grande (Walsh)Subs – Hustwaite, Wells

REFEREE – Mr Kane 

Images courtesy of Grace Joines