Friday Freebie: Shared Points Can Go A Long Way

Isthmian South East Division serves up another entertaining game

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This midweek I managed to fit in an extra game, usually getting in two matches per week and writing them up along with all the extras I do is just about enough but sometimes you have to squeeze the bottle and get the most out of it.

Now, those of you who subscribe to the plan know what to expect as you read through this week’s offering. As you read through however, you’ll see it’s not just a talking about the match happening in front of my eyes and you’ll see why as we go through.

Wednesday evening was a venture back home to Kent and Sevenoaks Town. I lived in Kent all my life until 2006 when I moved to West Sussex. I might have been down on the South Coast for nearly 20 years but the Garden of England will always be home and familiar.

I spent five years living literally round the corner from the Bourne Stadium and spent many a time at a ground that has developed a lot in the years past from my childhood upwards.

They were hosting a Sittingbourne side I was keen to see in the Isthmian League South East Division, having performed so well last year but falling short in the play-offs they’re expected to be up there once again.

A fairly decent journey round the M25, food consumed and ready for the action. A frantic pace began the game before the heavens opened for the first time, something about midweek football and rain currently, we might be in that time of year but it seems to stay away on the weekends.

The visitors started on the front foot and were in front on 11 minutes through Liam Smith. They continued to press as Oaks struggled to get themselves into the game, despite coming into it on the back of a 5-3 win over Herne Bay at the weekend.

Chances came and went for the Bourne, Sevenoaks though thought they had levelled on 36 minutes, a super save first by Harley Earle and then a header cleared off the line kept the visitors in front.

However, the equaliser did come in first half stoppage time Jefferson Aibangbee sent away superbly and kept his composure to finish nicely past Earle to restore parity at the interval.

Sevenoaks had the better of the ball in the second half, both sides with pace however wanting to attack and win the game. Sittingbourne though looked dangerous at set pieces and their best opportunity to score you sensed would come this way.

As the game wore on, Bourne intensity increased and looked the more likely to nick a winner, the ball in the net but ruled out for a foul, Sevenoaks defending their goal superbly with both sides having to settle for a point.

Another thoroughly entertaining game as per the game on Tuesday evening from the same division, the visitors will feel they should have been out of sight by half time but these moments throw up the opportunity to be bitten on the bum and with Oaks scoring that opportune moment at the right time the kind that changes games.

I always try and pick out one or two players that stick out for any reason, movement, passing ability, finding pockets of space, anything. Richard Hamill looked a class above for the visitors, his set piece delivery was classy and unfortunately for the Bourne very few clear chances from his delivery. Aibangbee took his goal for the Oaks very well, and had some of the pacier players managed to create some crossing lanes we might have ended up with a 3-3 rather than 1-1.

As always when I hit a non-league game there are usually a host of people to catch up with or grab a chat with, it’s the full reason why I don’t ground hop because I tend to visit a lot of the same stadiums from year to year.

Some times there are people there you know but didn’t expect to see, step forward Freddie Dillion, first team manager at Glebe who are starting to make a move up the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

The PA announcer at Sevenoaks, Andrew Gidley, I’ve known for more years than I care to remember, a great supporter of what I do and a fountain of knowledge, these people are the backbone of non-league football and a pleasure to be in the company of.

Great to chat to Bourne gaffer Ryan Maxwell during the half time break for the first time, a big admirer of what he achieved last season and prior to in his management career so far, not to even say who I was as he knew gives you the measure of the man.

I had actually planned to meet one half of the Kent Non-League Podcast Jon Phipps at the ground, but up to kick off I was expecting to watch alone knowing his shift pattern can be all over the place.

Well, it did happen during the second half, and hear this for dedication, Jon spent the first half at the far end of the ground recording the podcast in the pouring rain to ensure the good folk of Kent got their listening out on time. We all do this for the love, the blogging, the podcasting, the videos, interviews, everything.

I’m very lucky I get paid for some of what I do, not everyone is in that boat and the work so many people I know put in to producing what they do is always to be applauded.

If you don’t listen and like a bit of Kent based football, then you can find Jon and Matt’s podcast here. If you like a bit of Sussex football then my new pod is here for your listening.

The last word however goes to ‘Mr Sevenoaks Town’ Eddie Diplock who sadly passed away aged 93 the day before the match. I’ve known Eddie since I was a kid, the rivalry then between Sevenoaks and Otford. A good friend of my dad, never ever heard a bad word said and just a passion for the club he loved, as I remarked to Andrew in our chat ‘they don’t make them like Eddie any more’………..

Image: Sevenoaks Town FC