Two goals in the final ten minutes denied Sittingbourne at Three Bridges as the Southeast leaders moved two points clear at the top of the table. 

Brickies boss Ryan Maxwell called for a response from his side after Wednesday’s defeat at Sevenoaks and for eighty minutes the visitors responded and going into the final ten minutes lead courtesy of Jack Steventon’s thumping header in first half stoppage time.  

Just as it was beginning to look as if the visitors could pull off a morale boosting win, Brian Villavicencio levelled with a low shot on eighty minutes and then netted an unlikely winner just three minutes from time to give the Sussex side the points. 

The prolific Noel Leighton missed the game’s first chance in a rare moment he got away from Steventon on the day – the home skipper shooting horribly wide from ten yards. 

Sittingbourne slowly chipped away at the home side – Derek Asamoah cut inside to shoot straight at keeper Sam Roberts; Jean Baptiste-Fisher sent a free kick a yard wide and Asamoah flicked a Jordan Crowhurst free-kick straight at Roberts. 

Keeper Mitch Beeney then kept the Brickies level with a magnificent save to deny Hayden Neather’s prod goalwards before the keeper was grateful for Chris Arthur to clear away after a defensive clearance ricocheted through the Sittingbourne box and flew wide. 

It was in first half stoppage time that saw the visitors take the lead. Luke Woodward’s flighted shot needed clearing and from the corner, Steventon met Crowhurst’s corner and powered home the header. 

After the break, the Brickies kept probing – Troy Howard had an effort in the early stages that was challenged and the defender’s touch took the power out of the shot and Steventon got round the back onto a Crowhurst free-kick, but this time couldn’t keep the header down. 

Slowly the home side began to create chances – Sam Bull had a free header wide; Dan Ferriera drove over when well-placed and Bull again missed an even clearer opportunity and will be furious that he didn’t test Beeney from Leighton’s knock down as he blazed over. 

With ten minutes left Villavicencio capitalised on a defensive slip and slotted home to level the scores and then won the game for the League leaders as he was left unmarked ten yards out in front of goal. 

THREE BRIDGES – Roberts, Ferreira, Hallard, Bull, Neathey, Villavicencio (Bryson), Leighton, Rivers, Adeyinka, Velvick (Ghannam), Bennett. 

Subs not used – Difika, Irving, Falzon.

SITTINGBOURNE – Beeney, Hoyte, Graham, El-Mogharbel, Steventon, Arthur, Howard (Sinai), Woodward (Theobalds), Asamoah (Salako), Crowhurst (Foxley), Fischer (Smith).

REFEREE – Mr. Ablitt