Full-time Report

Report by Peter Pitts

Tues 22nd October 2002

ATT : 120

After a day of heavy rain this game only went ahead because of the hard work of Andy Spice, Wilf Busbridge, John Kidney and John Pitts in clearing the pitch of water, but it was all worth it as the 2-1 result put the Brickies back on the win trail.

The game was never going to be a classic because of the conditions but the victory was comfortable enough especially as Sittingbourne played an hour with only 10 men after James Campbell was sent off for a challenge from behind.

Sittingbourne started well and after just 6 minutes an Andrew Drury free kick was volleyed just wide by Campbell. At the other end St Leonards liveliest front runner Kym Monroe then forced a good save from Lee Hook. Two minutes later Drury set off  again this time sending in a stinging cross.  Drury continued to be in the thick of the action  and on 16 minutes the Brickies leading scorer picked up an Andre Deleon pass and coolly slotted the ball past St Leonards 17 year old goalkeeper Peter Newstead to give Sittingbourne the lead.

Eleven minutes later the Brickies scored a remarkable second goal when a Lee Hook goal clearance caught Newstead out of his goal and the ball bounced over his head to extend Sittingbourne's lead. It's not often that a goalkeeper scores after kicking the ball out. Some people (of a certain age) remember Tottenham's Pat Jennings doing it and previous Brickies keeper James Creed, has also achieved it.

The game could have turned on 30 minutes as James Campbell's rash challenge was penalised by referee Mr Valentino with a red card but St Leonards were unable to make the extra man count and in fact it was often difficult to tell that the Brickies were playing with only 10 men.  St Leonards though could have pulled a goal back on 36 minutes when Lee Hook pulled off a magnificent save as he tipped a Monroe shot onto the bar.

The St Leonards Manager could be heard giving his side a real roasting at half time but it was Sittingbourne who started the second half the better as both Drury and Kieran Marsh troubled the St Leonards defence. But on 61 minutes St Leonards came back into the game as a Ben Taylor challenge in the box was judged unfair and Peter Baker made no mistake from the penalty. The penalty seemed a harsh decision, and the Sittingbourne fans were wondering whether  their team would capitulate but instead they came back well led again by Andrew Drury who on 73 minutes was unlucky not to get something after waltzing round Gavin Ramsden and Paul Watson. Unfortunately the final cross just eluded Glenn Barlow. A minute later Kieran Marsh had another good shot which Newstead did well to turn round.

St Leonards were not showing any urgency and the Brickies seem to have the run of the park. Time was ticking away and on 86 minutes a St Leonards free kick went just wide. They were lucky to have had a second chance with the kick after making a mess of the first effort.

Although not looking in danger of conceding another goal  the 8 minutes of injury time added on by the referee tested the nerve of the Brickies supporters but at last the whistle came and perhaps things are looking up at last.

Referee Mr Valentino had a busy evening with his notebook and apart from James Campbell's dismissal also booked 5 players, (2 from Sittingbourne and 3 from St Leonards.