Sittingbourne 4 ( Woodward -2, D Asamoah, Fischer-pen) FC Croydon Athletic 3 (Watson, Pierrick, Daniel – pen)
Isthmian League, South East Division
Saturday 1st November 2025
Report by Jacob Waller
Sittingbourne came from 2-0 down to win 4-3 in an action-packed afternoon.
The visitors had knocked Sittingbourne out of the FA Cup back in August. In fact, the Rams
are just one of five teams in all competitions to come away from Sittingbourne with a win in
42 home games prior to this League game. However, the Brickies inflicted some revenge for
that defeat.
Ryan Maxwells Sittingbourne had to work incredibly hard for the three points having found
themselves 1-0 down on the 11th minute when Noah Watson finished off a move which cut
through the home side’s defence, and then the Rams doubled their lead less than a minute
later via Brandon Pierrick.
A huge uphill battle then for the home side who have only scored more than two goals in a
game twice this League campaign, however they did get a goal back three minutes later via
the tireless midfield workhorse Luke Woodward, a player who embodies everything that
manager Ryan Maxwell is but on the pitch. And would you believe it, 44-year-old striker
Derek Assamoah popped up three minutes later to level the scores at 2-2. If you nipped to
the toilet, you may well have missed four goals in just eight minutes.
It’s safe to say that the Sittingbourne team talk at half time would have been more pleasant
than had they gone in 2-0 down, but I’m not sure manager Ryan Maxwell would have let his
side off having conceded two almost identical goals within 60-seconds of each other.
Whatever was said by Maxwell and his coaching staff certainly worked because within three
minutes of the restart the Sittingbourne faithful were cheering yet another Luke Woodward
goal as the Brickies edged in front 3-2.
Having taken the lead, Sittingbourne naturally dropped back as AFC Croydon looked for an
equaliser – and that equaliser came in the 65th minute via the penalty spot courtesy of Kadell
Daniel.
As we approached the final 15 minutes, I think both managers would have taken a draw at
full time. However, the home side were given a penalty of their own on the 5th minute and
with his last kick of the game before being substituted, former PSG man Jean-Baptiste
Fischer calmly slotted Sittingbourne in front once again.
Despite the scores finishing 4-3 in favour of Sittingbourne, the action wasn’t over there. there
were a few handball shouts at both ends of the pitch, a handful of half chances and six
minutes added time – but Sittingbourne saw through a much needed and much deserved win
which showed true character to come from behind.
Sittingbourne: Mitchell Beeney, Gavin Hoyte, Bagasan Graham ©, Richie Hamill (Ayman
El-Mogharbel), Jack Steventon, Chris Arthur, Troy Howard (Jaden Crowhurst), Luke
Woodward (D’sean Theobalds), Derek Asamoah (Michael Salako), Jean-Baptiste Fischer
(Jordon Ibe), Henry Sinai.
AFC Croydon Athletic: Frankie Beckles, Noah Watson, Harvey Kedwell, Kadell Daniel (Richard Afrane-Kesey), David Bremang (Nya Kirby), Brandon Pierrick, Louie Theophanous, Olu Oluwatimilehin, Luke Dreher (C), David Boating, James Dunne
Subs, not used: Junir Savane, James Taylor, Charlie Colkett
Att: 304
Referee: Gerry Heron