Mitch May’s hat-trick and a terrific team performance eased Sittingbourne past the FA Cup Preliminary round for the first time in five seasons with a 4-2 win at Combined Counties Champions Farnham Town. 

The home side haven't lost a League game since the end of 2022/2023 and eased past Tunbridge Wells in the last round were always chasing the game after Liam Smith’s brilliant glancing header on three minutes, The home side levelled against the run of play before the break when Jack Dean headed home from a corner that the Brickies disputed. 

After the break, May put the visitors back in front from the spot after he have been clumsily bundled over by Jordan Stepney, a challenge that earned the Farnham man a second yellow card. As often seems to happen the ten men responded really well and levelled in the closing ten minutes thanks to a fine drive from Kai Tanner after the Brickies could clear a corner. 

The Brickies though were not to be denied, and May prodded them us back in front from Henry Sinai’s driven ball, and then after a brilliant run and pull back from Donvieve Jones, May completed his second Brickie hat-trick as he hammered home. 

The Brickies started on the front foot and Joe Boachie’s early ball caused chaos in the home box forcing the Richie Hammill corner which Smith gloriously headed across the keeper and into the net. 

Godfrey Poku hobbled off shortly after as a result of more than one heavy challenge that were left unpunished which seemed to be the officials remit! 

Troy Howard went close with a lob after getting behind the defence and Smith actually had the ball in the net again – from another Hammill corner – but this time Mr Trout disallowed the goal which was to prove to be the first of many decisions that bewildered players, coaches, and fans alike! 

And one such decision came in the awarding of the corner that led to Farnham’s equaliser. Hammill almost restored the lead but was inches off target after Howard again. 

After the break, the visitors again got on top after Jones’ long ball saw May and Kinnane battling for the bouncing ball and ended with both on the deck after the defender was all over the back of the Brickies front man. Stepney was rightly shown a yellow card which was his second yellow and so a red followed as May brushed himself down and rolled the spot kick home. 

The home side rallied as is often the case and battled their way level, The Brickies struggled to clear, and the ball found its way to Tanner who brilliantly drove the ball into the bottom corner. 

Just as it seemed as though the ten men had salvaged an undeserved replay, Sittingbourne made sure they did not get one! Hammill drilled a last-minute free kick into the box, Smith rose and headed down for Sinai. The substitutes drilled ball back cross the face of goal and May stuck out a long leg to put the visitors ahead for a third time. 

Any doubt that the home side would respond again were nullified almost immediately as Jones did brilliantly down the left and his perfect pull back was hammered home by May to complete a second half hat-trick and the Brickies were in the First Qualifying Round for the first time in five seasons. 

FARNHAM TOWN – Nash, Jack Dean, Kinnane, Stepney, Addo-Antoine (Tanner), Cooksley, Jackson, Owen Dean (Sanders), Flatman (Butler), Martins (Brennan), Liddle (Rollinson) 

BRICKIES – Earle, Lokombo, Jones, Hammill, Smith, Arthur, Howard (Georgiou), Poku (Cosgrave), May, Ayman (Beckford), Boachie (Sinai) 

Sub (not used)– Torsiello 

Att: 455

REFEREE – Mr Trout 

 
Mich with Match ball after his hattrick