Herne Bay: Harry Brooks, Sam German, Tom Hanfrey, Harrison Pont, Liam Friend, Daniel Carrington, Sam Wright (Sammi Takaloo 60), Mo Kamara, Michael Salako, Bola Dawodu, Frankie Smith. Subs not used: Jacob Gilbert, Archie Burnett, Kayan Hassan, Finlay Whitton.
Yellow cards: Dan Carrington, Harrison Pont, Bola Dawodu

After Herne Bay were promoted to the Isthmian League for the 2012/13 season Sittingbourne were one of three sides, along with Hythe Town and Ramsgate, who had remained in the same Division. Sittingbourne had lost two games in their last 19 league matches since February. The Brickies were currently unbeaten in five league games and were on the back of thumping Erith & Belvedere 6-0. It was third vs fourth with both teams on 11 points from six games with Bourne having the better goal difference.

It was a much-changed side due to injuries to forwards Gil Carvalho and Kane Rowland and play-makers Archie Burnett, Theo Osinfolarin, Jacob Gilbert and Jack Richards. Some were on the bench to be used if necessary. Sam Wright, a recent signing from Hollands & Blair, who had not yet featured due to a shoulder injury, had to go off on the hour when it went again, and was replaced by Sammi Takaloo who had missed the last two matches due to concussion suffered against Sevenoaks Town. Steve Lovell played four tall defenders at the back, Liam Friend, Harrison Pont, Tom Hanfrey and Sam German, to counter Bourne’s long ball tactics.

It was a dreary first half with neither side having any real opportunities although Bay had the better of the half chances. A Tom Hanfrey free kick to the far post was cleared for a corner, Mo Kamara put Frankie Smith through with Brickies keeper Bobby Mason having to race out and clear and a great run from the half-way line by Michael Salako ending with a shot just wide of the post.

The second period had to be better, and it was, but not for Herne Bay. Kamara shot from range and it was safely collected by Mason, a free kick from German was headed clear, Hanfrey raced in and fired a bullet of a shot which was hugely deflected and touched over the bar by Mason. Ten minutes in came the game changer. Harry Brooks completely misjudged a D'Shaun Theobalds free kick, which caught in the wind, and Chris Harris came in at the back post to head home and put Sittingbourne in front, against the run of play. It should have been two just afterwards as Javaun Splatt latched onto a poor clearance from Brooks and crashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar with the ball bouncing away to safety.

The referee, who gained notoriety several years ago when Dorchester Town player/boss Ashley Vickers spotted a Borat impersonator being chased on the pitch by stewards at Havant and Waterlooville, he stepped in to help. But as the offender was being escorted from the pitch, Vickers was dismissed for violent conduct by David Spain. Spain booked three Bay players and did not endear himself to the visitors although his interventions did not affect the result.

With three minutes to go Bourne made it two when a Theobalds low drive flew into the bottom corner of the net. Sittingbourne went up to second and Bay stayed in fourth.

Seven matches into the league campaign and with three wins, two draws and two defeats it had been a satisfactory start taking into account a new management team, a totally new squad and an abundance of injuries and was possibly better than could have been expected before the season commenced. Next up on Saturday is a visit to Winch’s Field from Lancing.