Sittingbourne returned to winning ways as Jordan Greenidge’s late header settled a tough game at the Staxson Stadium. 

With both sides struggling of late, the result to both was clearly more important than performance given the opening half with chances few and far between with Joe Bochaie’s opener for the home side a case in point. 

The Brickies play maker let fly from thirty yards only for the ball to hammer off the underside of the bar not once by twice and bounce out. There were loud appeals for a “goal” on the first bounce – cries that got louder for the second at which point the referee signalled for the strike to count. 

Within five minutes though the visitors levelled as Gil Carvalho’s shot took a huge deflection to take the ball so far out of the reach of keeper Jamie Grossart that the home faithful just sank thinking, “oh no, not again!” 

And shortly after scoring Carvalho went close again but this time was denied by a combination of young George Rees and Grossart. Harvey Smith saw a shot blocked from neat Boachie work and the first half ended with a Merstham shot that went wider and wider and higher and higher – really summing up the opening half perfectly! 

The second period was an improvement as both sides went looking for an elusive win – the Brickies just their second in six games and for Merstham it was no wins in eight – which opened up the second period although there a massive sense of concern around Woodstock. 

Leo Young went close for the visitors but should have hit the target; Bagasan Graham stung the gloves of George Hill with a fierce drive and Khavarn Wiliams shot straight at the keeper when well placed. 

The home side thought they had retaken the lead on sixty-eight minutes but this time the officials ruled against the home side as Daren Foxley’s cross was met by Jordan Greenidge, Hill’s save was adjudged not to have crossed the line. 

The Brickies weren’t to be denied and in the next attack, Greenidge got in behind the defence to angle a lovely header over the keeper and into the net. 

The visitors tried to up the tempo, but the home back line held firm and only on one occasion where Grossart finished in a heap after a corner, was the home goal really threatened. 

Brickies back up to third as they head off on their travels to Erith Town and Eastbourne Town.

SITTINGBOURNE – Grossart, Hill, Graham, Dua (Mongoy), Hoyte, Reiss Greenidge, Foxley (Rope), Boachie, Jordan Greenidge (Agbebi), Williams 

Subs – Salmon, Uwandu 

MERSTHAM – Hill, Khinde (Greenwood), Johnson, Healy (Mengou), Young, Christie (Torseillo), Carvalho, Lewis, Lawal, Mullings (Jenkins), Bradford 

Sub – Allen 

REFEREE – Mr Smith