Sittingbourne 2 (0) -v- Hassocks (1)

Sittingbourne made it five wins out of five under Reece Prestedge on Tuesday (2nd December) evening as goals from the Asamoah’s - father and son, Derek and Zayshaun – saw the Brickies come from behind to beat Hassocks at the Bauvill Stadium. 

After going behind early on to a header, Sittingbourne struggled to get going in the first half yet after the break the home side dominated as first Dad Derek hammered a brilliant equaliser before setting up Son Zayshaun for his first Brickies goal that proved to be the winner with visiting keeper James Shaw saving brilliantly to deny Jaden Crowhurst, Luke Woodward and Jean-Baptiste Fisher. 

The visitors were ahead inside ten minutes when Dan Turner thumped home an unmarked header from a corner to put Hassocks in front. 

Sittingbourne’s first chance fell to Jack Steventon who fired over after his own header – from Richie Hamill’s corner – rebounded to him. Henry Sinai then had an effort blocked after a great run from Derek Asamoah, before Asamoah himself was denied by a really smart save by Shaw who recovered magnificently to beat out Sinai’s follow up. 

The second half began in a similar fashion with Shaw denying Sinai whilst Taylor Seymour pulled off a sensational save to keep the score at one-nil denying Turner a second header from point blank range only for referee Joss to blow the play dead. 

Woodward was then denied by a full-length Shaw before with almost his first touch Zayshaun Asamoah had an effort beaten away. It only delayed what was becoming inevitable as Derek Asamoah drilled an angled shot beyond a statuesque Shaw in of a post. 

The home side were now in total command – Derek Asamoah shot on the turn flashing wide; Shaw denied Crowhurst with a sensational finger tipped save that saw the ball cannon off the keeper and the post – and it wasn't long before the Brickies took the lead. Derek Asamoah nipped in front of the keeper and squared for Zayshaun who hammered the ball into the net. 

Another Shaw brilliant save denied Fisher a late third, but the points were won, and the Brickies were up to fifth with a weekend derby at Herne Bay coming next on Saturday. 

For the Asamoah’s a really unique night – not just because Dad and Son both scored, but this was the second time that Dad Derek had scored in a game with a son as he’d previously done so with his older son Maleace in their Cheshunt days!  

Sittingbourne Played: Seymour, Crowhurst, Fisher, Woodward (Boachie), Steventon, Hoyte, Sinai (Zayshaun Asamoah), Hamill, Derek Asamoah (Smith), Theobalds and Foxley. Sub not used: Graham and Hobbs.

NEXT MATCH: HOME- Herne Bay in the Isthmian League South East Division - Saturday 6th December, kick off at 3:00pm.