Wednesday 27 January 2016

Sittingbourne 2 Corinthian Casuals 1

Match 62/15/1267 - Tuesday, 26th January 2016 - Ryman League Cup QF

Sittingbourne (0) 2 Hughes 66,77
Corinthian Casuals (1) 1 Joseph 33
Attendance: 70

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 33/4,746

Match Report

ME9 8AG. This is the postcode for Sittingbourne Football Club for my future reference and others that might trail around country lanes in the near future. I made such a mess of getting to this footballing outpost, even I couldn't believe I had been here before and found the place with ease.

A satellite navigation devise can only work if given the correct details of your destination and forward planning is the key. Undecided on where I would spend my Tuesday evening; by the time I made the decision on Sittingbourne, I was fumbling around with my phone looking for the correct postcode. Sittingbourne's website is a lot more user friendly on a tablet than a phone and a Google search eventually gave me a postcode, for their old ground at Central Park!

The most annoying part was actually heading along Woodstock Road en-route to what is presently a greyhound track.

I eventually arrived at Woodstock Park with the game around 10 minutes old. The young lady on the gate helpfully informed that the game had kicked off late and I had only missed around five minutes and it was still goalless.

The remnants of Storm Jonah that had dumped a trillion tonnes of snow on the eastern seaboard of America was blowing hard with driving rain, not hard but irritating. So the little covered enclosure was a welcome retreat.

Sittingbourne have ventured to the quarter-final of the competition by virtue of winning a penalty shoot-out in the previous round against Hastings United, who disposed of Tonbridge in similar fashion, whilst Corinthian Casuals were reinstated after Tooting and Mitcham had been found to have played an ineligible player in their tie.

The wind made it particularly difficult for both sides and there wasn't much between the sides with Corinthian perhaps edging it by virtue of having the advantage of the wind. They took a 33rd minute lead when Stef Joseph was sent clear to finish past Adam Molloy with a low shot into the corner.

Sittingbourne's second half recovery began on the hour with the introduction of an old friend, Andy Irvine, recently signed from Tunbridge Wells. He won a free kick that was turned away for a corner. Hitcham Akhassan, who now must attain legendary status with the Brickies, sent the ball the box and a partial clearance fell to Dan Hughes, who scored with a sweet volley from the angle of the six yard box.

The home side took the lead with a well worked goal that involved Irvine sending Josh Wisson away down the right hand side. The youngster, who on Saturday will be with England Schoolboys, stood up the perfect cross for Hughes to nod in from close range.

Sittingbourne comfortably saw out time to set up an all-Kent semi-final against Faversham Town.



No comments: