More on KentOnline
Home Sittingbourne Sport Article
Sittingbourne stunned higher-division Enfield to continue their history-making FA Trophy run and reach the last 32 for the first time.
Henry Sinai gave the Isthmian South East side an early lead but National League South Enfield recovered to lead 2-1 through Jake Hutchinson and Sam Youngs.
Back came Ryan Maxwell’s men, with Joe Boachie’s double - including a terrific overhead kick -and a Dan Cox own goal giving them a 4-2 lead at the break.
That’s how it stayed at Woodstock as the Brickies bridged a two-division gap with a performance featuring hard work, determination, pace and plenty of quality.
The opening goal of a breathless first half came in just the fourth minute as Troy Howard collected Richie Hamill’s free-kick and burst down the right before crossing for Sinai to fire home.
Enfield turned the tie on its head, wiping out the early deficit with goals on eight and 17 minutes.
Hutchinson levelled with a free header from a right-wing cross to the back post, then Lennon Peake’s lovely cross from the opposite flank was nodded in by Youngs.
Shortly before the Towners’ second, Harley Earle made himself big to pull off a superb save from Hutchinson at point-blank range.
Sittingbourne were scaring the life out of Enfield with their pace going forward, so that was never going to be the end of the scoring.
The leveller came in the 25th minute, with Ryan Kingsford holding up the ball out wide before playing in Howard down the right.
He delivered another dream cross for Boachie to sweep home.
The Brickies took the lead four minutes later with a spectacular second goal for Boachie.
Hamill’s dangerous free-kick from the right wasn’t dealt with and Boachie set himself for a brilliant overhead kick.
A 3-2 lead became 4-2 in the 37th minute.
Hamill floated a cross to the back post which ended with Cox heading into his own net from virtually under the bar.
Liam Smith, playing in midfield, went close to a fifth before half-time, heading over from Hamill’s free-kick.
Enfield had the advantage of the wind in the second half but were offering very little.
They looked short on confidence - quite the opposite to a Brickies side who were controlling the game well.
Indeed, Sittingbourne denied their Step 2 opponents a chance worthy of the name to take their place in Monday’s fourth-round draw.
Sittingbourne: Earle, Lukombo (Cosgrave 90+6mins), Graham, Hamill, Steventon, Arthur, Howard (El-Mogharbel 85mins), Smith, Boachie, Kingsford, Sinai (May 77mins). Subs not used: Davidson, Beckford, Campbell.
Enfield: Forster, Benjamin, Cox, Thompson, Payne, Adjei-Hersey (Brown 46mins), Tuck, Scott (Leonard 46mins), Youngs, Peake (Whittaker 84mins), Hutchinson (Beckles-Richards 78mins). Subs not used: Connolly, Parcel, Smith.
Referee: Mr Searle.
Attendance: 362.