Sittingbourne 5
Crawley Down Gatwick 2
By Mick Martin
The final result didn’t do justice to Crawley Down’s performance against the Brickies as they matched their opponents throughout in terms of possession but Sittingbourne were more clinical in their finishing.
The Anvils fielded seven players 20 or under for this encounter started with much more determination than had been shown in previous weeks and pegged the Brickies down for long periods.
Sittingbourne however were first on the scoresheet after just six minutess when Reiss Gallagher got on the end of a far post cross to put them ahead.
The Anvils rallied and dominated play in midfield but were getting caught on the breaks and Zane Campbell-Rose in goal had to pull off a number of saves to keep them at bay.
Down continued their pressure and Wilfred Grimaud carved his way through past Adam Molloy to equalise.
But against the run of play two defensive errors from long balls allowed Joe Taylor to score twice in six minutes to forge a 3-1 lead.
Tom Bingham cutting in from the right side on 39 minutess fired past Molloy to put the Anvils back in the game.
For the rest of the half the Anvils dominated and could have drawn level but Molloy made an incredible save to keep out John Lansdale’s rasping shot via the post.
Joe Taylor sealed the victory with his hat-trick and fourth goal for Sittingbourne with breakaway efforts.
In the 90th minute substitute Francis Lendso was sent-off for the Anvils after an elbow had allegedly been used.
Down: Zane Campbell-Rose, Charlie Slocombe, Akwasi Fobi-Edusei, Bradley Peters, Bakari Sinclair-Smith, John Lansdale, Tom Frankland (Francis Luke), Karl Akehurst, Wifred Grimaud, Tom Bingham (Narins Lendzo), Romone McCrae (Zak Afellous).
Attendance: 118
Man of the Match: John Lansdale