Tony Rickson Reports:

Saturday 23rd March 2019

Bostik South East

East Division

Sittingbourne (0) 0     Hythe Town (2) 3    (Ansah (pen) 30, Carlton 36, K Campbell 63) , Attendance: 192

Sittingbourne: Patrick Lee, Chris Webber, Kwasi Amoah, Jack Morrell, Harry Barkaway (Tom Lawrence, 60 min), Lewis Chambers,  Izzy Adebayo (Liam Middleton, 77 min), Chris Barnard, Roman Campbell, Billy Lewins (Johan Caney-Bryan, 45 min), Timmie Babbington. Subs not used: Rob Lofting, Franklin Phipps.

Hythe Town: Tony Coxall, Sal Kisitu, Khanye Makhosini, Chris Kinnear (Elliot Capel, 75 min), Ollie Rowe, Mitchell Dickenson (Yellow card), Ryan Palmer, Thomas Carlton, Zak Ansah, Sid Sollis (Charlie Webster, 68 min), Kieron Campbell (Tom Walmsley, 89 min). Subs not used: Kane Philip, Jack Smith.

Referee: Kirsty Dowle. Assistants: Jordan Whitworth, Toby Enstone.

Chances created by Hythe Town: 4 or 5; Chances taken: 3. Chances created by Sittingbourne (and these were just the good ones) 8 or 9; Chances

taken: 0.

And that’s why Hythe completed the double this season and retain their interest in the play-offs. And why Sittingbourne still need to keep an eye on what’s going on below them in the table, and why three points next Saturday at Greenwich Borough would be vital in that respect.

It wasn’t for the want of trying that Sittingbourne lost this match.

They worked hard and created some excellent goalscoring positions but for one reason or another they missed them all.

And at the other end the defence was carved open just a little too easily and Hythe were able to build a very flattering three-goal lead.

It was the biggest defeat Chris Lynch has suffered since his first day in charge, and the first time in seven matches Sittingbourne haven’t scored in a game.

Emerging from their smart-looking new dressing rooms for the first time, Sittingbourne kept the same side that started the previous week at Whitstable when their five-match winning run was halted.

It was an even start between what looked two-well matched teams with Patrick Lee making a good save following a Hythe free-kick and opposition appeals for a penalty for handball by Kwasi Amoah dismissed.

Sittingbourne created a great chance on 26 minutes when Roman Campbell’s superb run was finished by keeper Coxall blocking his shot. The loose ball ran for Timmie Babbington and though he beat the fallen keeper his effort was kicked off the line by covering defender Dickenson.

Up the other end and Sittingbourne’s defence was split between the centre-backs and left-back for ex-Brickie Sal Kisitu to race into the area at full speed. Out came Lee, down went Kisitu, and the assistant referee immediately flagged for a penalty. From where I was, it looked a good shout but those closer to the action were adamant it was never a foul. Top scorer Ansah converted, though only off the underside of the bar.

Six minutes later and the defence was split again, this time through the inside-left channel, and Tom Carlton, whose dad Paul used to play for Sittingbourne, scored confidently inside the far post.

Sittingbourne came roaring back and Billy Lewins looked as though he’d scored but the ball ran agonisingly the wrong side of the post, and the keeper made a good save from Chris Barnard, both chances coming from great play by the excellent Campbell.

And the Brickies started the second half where they’d left off with Izzy Adebayo shooting just over and Barnard also going close, though when Hythe did get forward Ansah’s shot rebounded back out off the post.

Hythe’s third, on the break and converted past a defence that had just switched to a back three, made it too much of a mountain for Sittingbourne to climb, though they still kept plugging away.

And the chances followed with Campbell firing into the side-netting after a great run to set up his own chance, sub Johan Caney-Bryan forcing a corner with a powerful shot, another sub, Liam Middleton, hitting the post from quite close in, and Babbington seeing his shot saved by the keeper.

A lot of effort, but nothing to show for it, and work needing to be done to restrict chances at the other end.

But the good news is that Sittingbourne have only been beaten three times in their last nine games and that’s with a very young side who will only get better in days and months to come.

Photographs from the game by Ken Medwyn

Match Day Programme