Post by Herr Wurst on Dec 22, 2007 21:03:52 GMT
What is it about North Kent Towns? They all seem to have a dismal aura about them with High Streets filled with stereotype chavs and architecture Prince Charles would never approve of. After weaving our way through the grim backdrop above, along the A2, dodging the single Mums in the pram lanes, we got hopelessly lost in an equally grim industrial estate. Somewhere amongst the drab prefabricated factory units was the home of Sittingbourne F.C. After asking directions in a dodgy boozer, we found our way to the front gates proclaiming 'Sittingbourne FC'. After the naff approach, this stadium was IMPRESSIVE from the outside...and I MEAN impressive! A huge car park with an equally huge looking stand that wouldn't look out of place at a Premiership ground. However, there was a catch...............
Despite the grand signage, this wasn't the home of Sittingbourne FC. Due to 'cashflow problems' this grand project was in limbo and Sittingbourne FC actually play on a pitch down a slope next to the main stadium, that has been cobbled together Margate style. Apparently, the plush looking stadium is only used for Greyhound racing at present. The whole project would appear to have been a dog's dinner........
Yes, there was a game of football....of sorts. Eyes were rolled when we clocked sight of the referee. Non other than Mr Hatzidakais, our old chum who was brandishing red cards for fun in our two Trophy ties against Walton and Hersham. True to form, he didn't let us down today. He brandished no less than eight yellow cards, many for trivia. We won the card count (by my count unless I lost count?!) 6-2. As a game of football, it was ugly and generally unskilful. It was made all the worse by the referee's inept performance and interpretation of the laws. Lot's of stop start and little lectures.
After a bright first ten minutes, the quality of football in the first half from both teams can best be described as....poor is a polite term. The only chance of note was very early on when Brotherton found himself in space but his shot was well saved by the keeper. By all accounts Sittingbourne's forth keeper in four games!
The second half started brighter with chances falling for Alexnader and Johnson who was denied by a diving save from the young keeper. After Jamie Brotherton had given Worthing the lead on 67 minutes, latching on to a lobbed pass from Dean Lovegrove, we looked quite comfortable despite the pattern of play being generally a mess, with little initiative being shown from either side. Lots of long aimless balls with few second balls being picked up by either team. Deep into injury time when we thought we were home and dry, Mr Hatzidakis awarded a free against Worthing for backchatting. Goal machine, Andy Lutwyche had come on for the ineffective sadough, presumably to shore up the defence in the dying seconds. From the resulting free kick, Sittingbourne grabbed a barely deserved equaliser. Damn!
So two valuable points went down the Pan on the wastelands of North Kent. Whilst it was generally not a good performance from Worthing, we had enough chances to win the game and certainly created more than the hosts. M.O.T.M. for me was Jamie Brotherton who worked his socks off, took his goal well and was unlucky not to score early in the first half. As for Sadough? Another poor and ineffective performance from him imo. His workrate and tactical awareness appear to be lacking. His style reminds me very much of Kurt Nogan. Rather laid back. He was a hot and cold striker who when good very good and when bad, awful. Sadough needs to find a hot streak soon because he's looking a luxury we can't afford to carry for too long.
Despite the grand signage, this wasn't the home of Sittingbourne FC. Due to 'cashflow problems' this grand project was in limbo and Sittingbourne FC actually play on a pitch down a slope next to the main stadium, that has been cobbled together Margate style. Apparently, the plush looking stadium is only used for Greyhound racing at present. The whole project would appear to have been a dog's dinner........
Yes, there was a game of football....of sorts. Eyes were rolled when we clocked sight of the referee. Non other than Mr Hatzidakais, our old chum who was brandishing red cards for fun in our two Trophy ties against Walton and Hersham. True to form, he didn't let us down today. He brandished no less than eight yellow cards, many for trivia. We won the card count (by my count unless I lost count?!) 6-2. As a game of football, it was ugly and generally unskilful. It was made all the worse by the referee's inept performance and interpretation of the laws. Lot's of stop start and little lectures.
After a bright first ten minutes, the quality of football in the first half from both teams can best be described as....poor is a polite term. The only chance of note was very early on when Brotherton found himself in space but his shot was well saved by the keeper. By all accounts Sittingbourne's forth keeper in four games!
The second half started brighter with chances falling for Alexnader and Johnson who was denied by a diving save from the young keeper. After Jamie Brotherton had given Worthing the lead on 67 minutes, latching on to a lobbed pass from Dean Lovegrove, we looked quite comfortable despite the pattern of play being generally a mess, with little initiative being shown from either side. Lots of long aimless balls with few second balls being picked up by either team. Deep into injury time when we thought we were home and dry, Mr Hatzidakis awarded a free against Worthing for backchatting. Goal machine, Andy Lutwyche had come on for the ineffective sadough, presumably to shore up the defence in the dying seconds. From the resulting free kick, Sittingbourne grabbed a barely deserved equaliser. Damn!
So two valuable points went down the Pan on the wastelands of North Kent. Whilst it was generally not a good performance from Worthing, we had enough chances to win the game and certainly created more than the hosts. M.O.T.M. for me was Jamie Brotherton who worked his socks off, took his goal well and was unlucky not to score early in the first half. As for Sadough? Another poor and ineffective performance from him imo. His workrate and tactical awareness appear to be lacking. His style reminds me very much of Kurt Nogan. Rather laid back. He was a hot and cold striker who when good very good and when bad, awful. Sadough needs to find a hot streak soon because he's looking a luxury we can't afford to carry for too long.
