Sittingbourne eased into the play-offs with a crushing win over VCD Athletic in the Woodstock sunshine.

If this was to be the Vickers final ever game, they will have been proud of their young side’s efforts for the first forty minutes when the home side had the ball but not the clear chances and “only” led through 44-year-old Derek Asamoah’s drive from 45 yards.

Mitch May had seen a header cleared off the line, Gavin Hoyte was inches away from Asamoah’s cross and Harvey Smith had headed straight at keeper Toby Waller.

But when Ben Swift hooked home the second just before the break after a Jack Steventon long throw hadn’t been dealt with, the spirit of VCD was dashed although Jack Nelson had a header into the side netting and Alfie Evans sent a free kick over the bar.

The half time whistle seemed to knock all the positivity out the Vickers as in the second period, the home side bossed things and it was only a matter of time before the lead was increased.

Harvey Smith curled home a magnificent third just past the hour after Mitch May had played a super touch; Jack Steventon the powered home number four with a brilliant header from a Darren Foxley centre with just four minutes of the ninety left before deep into time added on, Foxley reacted quickest to prod home after a free kick had been blocked.

The three points sent the home side into the play-offs where at the final whistle, the Brickies were heading to Jersey Bulls on Tuesday as the scores stood, but nearly ten minutes later, Croydon Athletics’ late goal against Sheppey United changed the Brickies destination from the Channel Islands to South London as they embark on their third successive post season campaign – third time lucky perhaps?

SITTINGBOURNE – Porter, Hoyte (Crowhurst), Morgan, Woodward, Steventon, Swift (Anderson), Smith, Theobalds (Hamill), May (Boachie), Asamoah (Sinai), Foxley

VCD ATHLETIC – Waller, Lawrence, Cassidy, Ozobia (Deakin), Nelson (Ojemen), Fenn, Ikebuasi, Evans (Kileba), Hards (Obiang), Andrews, Ibrahim (Deighton)

REFEREE – Mr. Phillips

Images courtesy of Paul Golding