Match Report: Sheppey United 2 Sittingbourne 1
Ites Dig Deep to Overcome Rivals in Kent Senior Cup Thriller
Sheppey United booked their progression in the Kent Senior Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over local rivals Sittingbourne, displaying both grit and squad depth on a brisk evening under the floodlights.
Faced with a heavily congested fixture list encompassing the FA Cup, FA Trophy, league commitments, and the Velocity Cup, Sheppey managers Ian & George Batten opted to heavily rotate the squad. With Harley Earle, Harlain Mbayo, and Mo Dabo sidelined, and key figures like Alfie Evans and Mams Diallo, D’Jean Spencer given precautionary rests following knocks against Redhill, and Danny Leonard ill, the door opened for youth and new faces.
Jobie Farr continued in goal, Harry Lawrence returned from suspension, and first starts were handed to youngster Kaelem Sobhee-Turner and new addition Alfie Hilden.
Sheppey started on the front foot and should have broken the deadlock as early as the 3rd minute, when neither Sobhee-Turner nor Simon Kabamba could bundle home a golden opportunity in a crowded box.
The hosts controlled much of the early possession, heavily utilising the set-piece route. Consecutive corners in the 12th minute saw Ethan Cole test the Brickies' defence, with the Sittingbourne goalkeeper forced into a sharp palm-away from a glancing header.
Despite Sheppey’s pressure, it was the visitors who drew first blood. In the 22nd minute, Samdon Uwandu capitalised from a corner kick to put Sittingbourne 1-0 ahead.
Sheppey immediately searched for a response. Jack O'Neill engineered a clever flick to set up Sobhee-Turner, whose half-chance was safely gathered, while Wisson headed just over from another dangerous corner moments later. Goalkeeper Jobie Farr and Harry Lawrence were also forced into crucial defensive interventions late in the half to keep the deficit at just one heading into the break.
Sensing the need for fresh momentum, the Battens made a half-time change, introducing Mikey Salako in place of O'Neill.
The substitution paid immediate tactical dividends as Sheppey increased the intensity. After sustained pressure and a flurry of corners, the breakthrough arrived in the 59th minute. Ben Clark delivered a pinpoint free-kick from the right, and captain Harry Lawrence rose highest to nod home, leveling the score at 1-1.
The Ites thought they had completed the turnaround moments later when Salako turned the ball home from a corner nodded back across by Josh Wisson, only for the referee to controversially chalk it off for an apparent push.
However, Sheppey’s persistence was rewarded in the 66th minute. Alfie Hilden turned provider, laying off to Dylan Adjei-Hersey, who unleashed a brilliant left-footed strike from the edge of the box through a sea of bodies into the far corner, making it 2-1 to the Ites.
The closing stages grew increasingly frantic. Lawrence thought he had grabbed his second and Sheppey's third in the 73rd minute, but the assistant's flag intervened for offside, much to the frustration of the home side who claimed the ball had last touched a Sittingbourne defender.
As the visitors pressed for an equaliser, tempers flared. A scuffle broke out following a Sittingbourne attack in the 79th minute, resulting in bookings for Kabamba and a visiting player. Farr was also cautioned shortly after in a scramble to retrieve the ball.
With the clock winding down, Sheppey’s defence threw bodies on the line to block a barrage of late shots, securing the narrow lead. Late substitute Ryan Freeman replaced Lawrence in the 90th minute to help see out the game, securing a memorable Kent Senior Cup derby win for the Ites.
Lineups & Key Match Facts
Sheppey United Starting XI: Farr (GK), Lawrence (Freeman 90'), Clark, Cole, Hilden, Sobhee-Turner, Adjei-Hersey, Wisson (C), O'Neill (Salako H/T), Andrews, Kabamba.
Unused Substitutes: Ryan Santry, Stevie Hedges, Tommy Linkson.
Goals: Harry Lawrence (59'), Dylan Adjei-Hersey (66')
Yellow Cards: Kabamba (79'), Farr (80'), Cole (90')
Report: Lee Allen
Photo: Marc Richards