Sittingbourne secured a comfortable win over Broadbridge Heath. 

The home side led by two at the break as Mikey Salako tapped home after Henry Sinai’s shot had been parried into the Woodstock sky by keeper Alfie   Hadfield early on and when the keeper could hold another ball into the box, Troy Howard’s acrobatics doubled the lead just before half time with his first goal back in Brickies colours. 

When skipper Jack Steventon was left unopposed at the back post to tap home Richie Hamill’s corner three minutes after the break the points were won and Jake Lawrence’s goal in stoppage time was merely a consolation that the visitors barely deserved. 

The home side flew out of the traps for the second Saturday in succession and for the second Saturday in succession netted in the opening three minutes; last week it was Chris Arthurs winner against Hashtag United in the Trophy, this week it was Salako tapping home his third goal in four games since joining the Brickies. 

Debutant keeper Joe Osaghae pulled off a remarkable reflex save to keep the home side in front as after initially losing the ball as it was played into his box, Charlie Connell was denied by the keeper’s pure instincts. 

Hadfield then pulled out his own top-drawer save to keep out Dsean Theobalds pile-driver, before Salako was inches away from doubling the Brickies lead from the move of the match. Sinai played an exquisite cross field ball for Howard, and his first-time ball across the box was only inches away from a sliding Salako. 

Howard though took advantage of a flap by the keeper to spectacularly scissor kick the home side two-nil ahead before celebrating with his traditional somersault as Sittingbourne threatened to run away with things, but on the stroke of half time, Osaghae pulled off two really good saves – from Luke Bejashuili and Zach Young to preserve the advantage. 

An advantage that was extended moments into the second period as Hamill’s corner found an unmarked Steventon at the back post and the Brickies skipper netted his first goal of the season. 

The Brickies relaxed with the points in the bag and went searching for more – Steventon will be disappointed he didn’t convert another Hamill corner; Derek Asamoah fired just too high and Gavin Hoyte got on the end of a great move only to drill a shot too high. 

Broadbridge had their fleeting moments – Lawrence forced Osaghae into a fingertip save, before forcing the ball home in stoppage time as the ball came back off the Brickies crossbar and the unlucky keeper’s back, but it was far too little far too late and the win was Sittingbourne’s! 

SITTINGBOURNE – Osaghae, Hoyte, Arthur (Balliu), Hamill, Steventon, Ambroisine, Sinai (Asamoah), Theobalds, Salako (Samuel-Smikle), Woodward (Crowhurst), Howard (Robe) 

BROADBRIDGE HEATH – Hadfield, Staight, Terry (Al-Meskin), Marino (Evans), Hyde, Lowery, Bejashuili (Dowdell), Connell, Lawrence, Young (Pettipher), Abudoire (Romain) 

REFEREE – Mr. Dunn 

Images courtesy of Grace Joines