Tuesday 9 February 2016. Ryman League, Division One South.
Walton & Hersham 0 Sittingbourne 2.
After drawing 2-2 the previous Saturday at Woodstock Park, Swans had a quick return with the Kent club and went down to another disappointing defeat. Although they were already a goal down their chances were probably realistically ended in the 37th minute. Michael Salako seemed to have a good claim for a penalty turned down when he went down in the box, but he retaliated to the reaction of the Sittingbourne defender and was shown a straight red card. The ten men still had chances to get a positive result, but their challenge was effectively ended with just over ten minutes remaining when the visitors made it 2-0.
Gary Holloway and Richard Pacqette were both fit to return, but Matt Somner had to drop out after failing a pre-match fitness test, Lea Van Sullivan being a late replacement. Cristiano Goncalves-Neto and Gareth Chendlik both dropped to the bench.
Swans had a chance with just under ten minutes played when they won a free-kick out by the left touchline, but Brendan Murphy-McVey’s ball in was easily taken by visiting goalkeeper Adam Molloy.
But they almost immediately gifted a goal at the other end when an attempted clearance was blocked on the left and Hicham Akhazzan drove the ball across goal.
Pacquette almost got Salako in, but he was just denied by a defender and keeper Molloy. Sullivan shot over at the far-post when Murphy-McVey took a corner from the left, and Pacquette’s shot from the right took a deflection to go wide. From Murphy-McVey’s corner Dylan Casey had a glancing header cleared off the line.
But it was the visitors who took the lead after 19 minutes when a ball driven across from the right was not cleared and Steven Ita scored at the far-post.
Swans had a great chance to level three minutes later when Casey nodded the ball down when Murphy-McVey took a corner from the right, but Pacquette shot over from close-in. Salako then got into the right of the box, but his low, left-foot shot went just wide of the far-post.
Sittingbourne had a chance when Andy Irvine was played in on the left, but he put a low shot wide.
Then came the incident that saw Swans reduced to ten men. Despite that both Pacquette and Sullivan went close to equalising with five minutes left to the break. Gianfranco Mici played Pacquette into the box on the right, but Molloy just got a touch to his strong shot to deflect the ball wide of the far-post. From Murphy-McVey’s corner from the left Sullivan headed over at the far-post.
But in the final minute of the half a slip by Casey let Irvine in, and keeper Liam Beach, who made a succession of fine saves against The Brickies the previous Saturday, had to come out and block with his legs.
Early in the second-half Mici did well on the left, but he just failed to lay the ball inside to a well-placed Orlando Smith.
Just before the hour Swans went desperately close to an equaliser when they won a free-kick 25 yards out. Murphy-McVey struck the ball well, but it rattled the right-post, and Pacquette’s follow-up shot was blocked. With just under twenty minutes remaining Smith crossed from the right to find Mici at the far-post, but he put the ball over.
But Sittingbourne clinched the win when they laid the ball back from left of the box and Akhazzan drove it low past Beach.
An opportunity came for Swans when Murphy-McVey was brought down just outside the box with three minutes remaining, but his free-kick struck the wall and the ball looped into the hands of keeper Molloy, who was then fouled. Substitute Chendlik then made space in the left of the box, but his shot took a deflection and Molloy gathered.
Swans’ Team: Liam Beach, Stevie Panayi (Cristiano Goncalves-Neto 59’), Mekhail McLaughlin, Gary Holloway (Gareth Chendlik 71’), Lea Van Sullivan, Dylan Casey, Brendan Murphy-McVey, Gianfranco Mici, Richard Pacquette, Michael Salako, Orlando Smith (Kambo Smith 79’). Sub. not used: Joe Wallbanks. Dismissal: Salako, violent conduct (37’). .
Sittingbourne Team: Molloy, Wright, Carlse, Whibley, Crimmen, Steventon, Akhazzan, Bankole, Irvine (Cornwell 57’), Wells (Hughes 66’), Ita (Algar 81’). Subs. not used: Naessens, Davis. Scorers: Ita (19’), Akhazzan (78’).
