Henry Sinai scored the winner as Sittingbourne beat Lordswood to reach the FA Cup third qualifying round for the first time in 11 years.

Sinai’s second-half header from a Richie Hammill corner was the difference as the Isthmian South East visitors edged their Southern Counties East hosts.

A record crowd for a competitive match at Martyn Grove of 745 witnessed a tight first half with little between the sides.

Defences were largely on top although there were a couple of decent chances at either end.

For Lordswood, Jake Embery was inches away from meeting Callum Peck’s low cross to the near post while another Peck delivery, this time from a free-kick, saw Matt Gething head narrowly over.

At the other end, Brickies top scorer Mitchell May sent an early header wide, forced Aaron Lee-Wharton into the first save of the match after making space for a shot in the box and fired wide from Ryan Kingsford’s cross.

Brickies wideman Sinai went down in the box shortly before half-time after swapping passes with Kingsford but referee Tolu Sangowana waved away the visitors’ penalty appeals.

Once again there was plenty of effort and endeavour from both sides after the break, with the final piece of the puzzle lacking.

But the deadlock was broken in the 62nd minute when Hammill’s inswinging corner to the back post was headed home by Sinai.

That was the goal Sittingbourne needed to get more of a grip on the tie, immediately knocking the ball around confidently, with Sinai and Troy Howard growing threats down either flank.

Sinai went close to a second after turning on the edge of the box from a partially cleared long throw, his shot whistling past the post.

A bright run from Bradley Schafer threatened to unlock the door at the other end but he was stopped in his tracks in the box.

Lords keeper Lee-Wharton made a double save in added time to deny Sittingbourne a second, parrying an effort from outside the box and making himself big to block May’s follow-up.

Lordswood: Lee-Wharton, Miles (Green 83mins), Cotton (Myles 77mins), Keyte, Trespaderne (Duncan 77mins), Peck (Fleming 81mins), Dawodu, Gething, Schafer, Embery (Jeffrey 64mins), Strouts. Subs: Currie, Carey.

Sittingbourne: Curtis-Henry, Cosgrave, Lukombo, El Morgharbel, Smith, Arthur, Sinai, Hammill, May, Kingsford, Howard (Ofori 82mins). Subs not used: Torsiello, Farrell, Beckford, Georgiou, Hawkins, Earle.

Referee: Tolu Sangowana.

Attendance: 745.