This was my first visit to the Surrey Docks Stadium after an interesting drive through South London. The first thing to see at the ground was a burnt out van in the car park - but then we'd seen several other hulks on the way plus other sights in some very iffy looking areas. But - didn't we have a burnt out van in our car park a few months ago? Let's get onto football of which both sides displayed plenty in what was to be a hugely entertaining game as defences at each end had lots to do.

Fisher started off on top and had a goal disallowed after 6 minutes by an offside flag. But Town weathered the storm - which came down both flanks from two very nippy wingers who'd given us trouble at The Pilot Field. Landry, Monster and Simmo were to give the home defence plenty to think about as Town started to play some fine football on a superb looking surface. 1-0 on 13 minutes - Macca unleashed a rocket from outside the box that left our old mate Mo Munden standing as the ball flew in - bit like Duncan's goal against Stamford. The lead didn't last long as Town looking as if they'd dealt with a Fisher attack got the ball up to Monster on halfway - but he gave it away with a poor pass which was latched onto and Dave was left sprawling in the resulting one on one as the Fisher 10 levelled.

Landry had a chance to restore the lead after Munden and one of his defenders failed to deal with a Simmo cross but from a difficult angle he fired over the bar with the goal gaping. But Town's lead was restored when Flanners powered in a header from, a corner which Munden could only deflect into the roof of the net. But - in addition to being well known for his chops, Mo is also a decent keeper and he was to pull off good saves to deny Monster and Mylie as Town enjoyed a great spell in control. It was a real surprise when shambolic defending - Yatesie the main culprit - gifted Fisher an equaliser from close in.

The second half saw Town take a grip on the game and while Fisher always looked a useful side going forward, the rejigged defence coped well with everything thrown at it. Nick Hegley had a fine 90 minutes and looks more and more a fine aquisition by George. Landry was causing constant problems for the home defence and there were at least two occasions when he left full backs for dead only for his crosses to be cleared. And Landry it was who was heavily involved in the winning goal as he broke clear into the box where Munden blocked his shot well only to see his centre half put through his own goal to the delight of the Town contingent. A fine diving save by Munden was to prevent Mylie increasing Town's lead and Simmo saw an effort fly just over the bar as the home defence struggled against a lively Town attack.

Fisher were limited to one effort on goal when a diagonal pass across the goal mouth was just missed by a lunging home striker at the foot of the post. Big celebrations at the final whistle and Flanners' reaction alone showed what it all meant to the players. Make no mistake - this was a huge and deserved win at a difficult place against a good side.

No doubt there will be some who find fault with aspects of the afternoon's work - but the vast vast majority of Town supporters went home well chuffed.

A win against Crawley is always to be savoured - but, BUT, this is the Sussex Inferior Cup and both sides kicked off with big promotion issues to pre occupy them. They knocked us out of the DM Cup last season - and nobody really cared on either side - and this time around it was our turn. I think we care a bit more about it - after all we've taken on and beaten a side that's in with a real chance of Conference football next season - a side that's been in the top three of the DM Premier virtually all season - a side that's........... bloody Crawley - a full strength one as well! And what a turgid opening half hour - indeed you could say that about the whole of the first 45 minutes in which neither side really threatened the opposing goal. The highlight was watching referee Tomlin book Landry for kicking the ball away after an offside decision - in the knowledge that writing down "Zahana-Oni" would pose a challenge for any official's notebook skills. Tomlin was to have a pretty woeful evening in the middle - he managed to miss a couple of blatant handballs and displayed huge inconsistency in not booking a Crawley forward who did exactly what Landry had done. Tomlin basically got up everybodies' noses.

The second half saw a big improvement with Town's defence having to be at it's best (Still no Playford or Osborne) as Crawley stepped up the pace. Neither side wanted a replay, neither side wanted to lose, but a result on the night suited both. A scramble in the Town box resulted in the ball hitting a post - and then a Landry cross saw Nick Hegley (another fine game - George'll be pushed to leave him out when the absentees report back fit) head wide. Crawley's goal survived a big scramble on 55 minutes when Macca, Yatesie and Landry all couldn't quite get at the ball before it was hoofed clear. After Dave had dealt comfortably with a header from a corner - Town really started to apply pressure and Landry could easily had a hat trick in the last 10 minutes. A cross from Hegley was headed over on 83 minutes - Landry was set up by a great through ball from Macca only for his control to let him down as he bore down on goal and in the 89th minute - his control wasn't right again on the edge of the 6 yard box as the game went into extra time.

And the big breakthrough - two of them - came in the space of four minutes. Both set by Macca free kicks and the Crawley keeper at fault both times. A low hard free kick into the heart of the 6 yard box was spilt on 94 minutes and the ball broke nicely for Flanners to rifle home. 2-0 four minutes later - a high free kick this time - keeper caught in no mans land and Mylie there to head into an empty goal and spark off more celebrations.

Crawley might have pulled one back just before the end of the first period of extra time - but the chance was put wide by their 9 and that in effect was the end of the game as Town hung on comfortably for the win and a place in the semi finals against Ryman Div 2 Lewes - probably at Eastbourne Borough's ground. I heard rumours the game is to be played next week - if true that means the league game away to Dartford will have to be postponed again.

Well played lads anyway - and George W will have some good selectorial problems on his plate soon with the likes of Jonah, George P and Tommy O not too far away from fitness. The players who've come in have all done well - in particular with regard to these last two games against a couple of decent sides. No doubt about it - that strength in depth that was lacking last season is forming a major part of the current campaign and that's been particularly evident this last three days.

See y'all at Spalding on Saturday.

Three points in the bag - and Landry Zahana-Oni soon to be suspended for three games after his 80th minute red card for violent conduct. Frankly - in the 79 minutes between Paul Ruddy's strike and Landry's red card there was precious little else to write about a game that was utterly wrecked as a spectacle by gale force cross pitch winds that were to make the trek up to Lincolnshire a truly nerve wracking, underwear staining experience as my Granada attempted to be the first airborne of it's type on exposed stretches of the M11 and A14. A 387 mile round trip which was extended by by those appalling weather conditions on the way up with road works on the M11 junction with the M25 thrown in as a bonus. Whoever dreamt up that trendy idea of putting up those big "Sorry for any delays" signs should have one inserted ......... anally.

Mark, Chris and I staggered out of the car outside Spalding's compact "everything down one side" Sir Halley Stewart Playing Fields stadium at 2.55 having left Hastings at just before 11.00. I was still filming my usual introductory bit - focus on the programme, pan round the ground etc etc when Yatesie broke down the right, fired in a cross that was only half cleared to Rudds who as he lost his balance fired in a diagonal shot from the edge of the box that the keeper could only palm into the far corner.

The cross pitch winds made decent football impossible. Spalding were on a run of nine straight league defeats and looked like a side short of confidence - but Town's defence (still no George or Tommy O) had to be alert as they possessed the Eastern Division's leading scorer and had knocked in 59 goals. Having said that - Dave had nothing to do in goal for the first half while Town's lead might have been extended by Mylie, Monster and Landry. Mylie knocked the ball too far ahead after a nice exchange of passes and the keeper cleared, Monster flicked a Yatesie cross over and Landry might've done better than weakly hit a shot straight at the keeper. Simmo, incidentally, was back at sweeper again and had a great game and there's no doubt the defence has adapted well to George's new game plan brought on by the absences of Messrs Playford and Tommy O.

Dave didn't have a lot to do in the second half - he had to be quick to get out and punch clear a long ball into his area and the one time the Town goal was under any threat was when a corner was headed across the goal mouth and wide of the far post. At the other end - Nick Hegley (another fine performance) was involved in the two serious attempts on goal - he headed a cross at the keeper and fired one in himself that nobody was on hand to convert.

As to the red card - well I didn't see what happened as I was filming Mylie preparing to take a free kick by the touchline. Apparently there was some of that usual argy bargy as the players lined up in the Spalding box and the next thing the Spalding 4 was on the deck with Landry apparently having gotten pissed off with all the shoving and using an elbow - though the Town supporters who saw it thought it all pretty minor stuff. Whatever - the linesman called the ref over - they went through an utterly comical "hands over the mouth so nobody knows what we're saying" routine which resulted in Landry being red carded - an event which was to be the only thing Spalding had to cheer all afternoon as Town held out comfortably for the win. No doubt about - Landry shouldn't have raised an elbow because that usually results in a red card and whoever receives the elbow usually does his best to ensure that red card results - and that's exactly what happened.

With Jonah still being unable to get that bloody ankle sorted out - we don't need Landry sidelined for three games (Spalding (!) at home, Sittingbourne at home and Stains at Fort Fun). I spoke to Jonah before the game and it sounds as if he'll have to see a specialist. Be nice if he can be available again in a couple of weeks.

On the playing side of things, Town probably have little in the way of arguing about the outcome of this semifinal as Lewes - I felt - deservedly went through to meet either Eastbourne or Brighton. In terms of keeper "busyness" - our King Dave had rather more to do with Town's best spell coming in the opening stages of the second half.

Unfortunately the man in the middle was to hog the headlines for all the wrong reasons in a game littered with 10 yellow cards plus a red for Martin Eldridge who having replaced the injured Danny Simmonds in extra time was to only last 20 minutes before referee Gurr dismissed him for a second yellow. Phil Donaldson's match notes included comments twice to the effect that Gurr was worse than Paul "Vanker" Vosper - and that says it all. Tony Cosens - who I spoke to on Wednesday - is always level headed about the way he views a game - if we're crap, he says so etc etc etc - but he was equally scathing about Gurr's performance which - while pissing people from both camps off in equal measure - probably had a slightly bigger effect on us in terms of the result.

But - BUT - Lewes are through deservedly because they were the better side and caused our defence more problems than we caused their's. Dave pulled off some good saves in goal - the best of the lot late in the game as extra time loomed. Town missed Macca who was out after being subbed at Spalding on Saturday. Tony Cosens thinks it was more precautionary with the big Histon game fast approaching. On the plus front - another excellent game from Nick Hegley - no way - surely - can George drop Nick when the injured players are fit.

Nick it was who laid on the cross for Adam Flanagan - unmarked - to head Town into the lead on 51 minutes. But it didn't last long. With Simmo clearly in trouble after a clash of heads - Gurr let Lewes take a quick free kick, Town were caught napping and the Lewes 11 who caused problems all night equalised. As they enjoyed their goal - Gurr let Danny have treatment. Landry who had a hot and cold game thought he'd put Town ahead on 62 minutes but his effort was ruled out for pushing. Flanners looked to have been shoved off the ball as Town attacked a corner - but Gurr waved play on as he was to do later when the 11 went down in a heap in the Town box.

I wasn't actually at the game - this report is based on Paul Rush's camera work and Phil's written notes. And as Paul was obstructed by a head in the 107th minute - he didn't capture the winning goal - but seeing that we didn't get it - I don't suppose it matters. Town applied pressure late in the game - King Dave came up for a corner and was saved by an off side flag as Lewes broke away - Martin was sent off (apparently nothing wrong with tackle that had led to first yellow) and the game finished with Lewes celebrating - bit like we did when we beat Crawley.

Repercussions will obviously follow in terms of the yellows and the red - Martin will be out for a game for a start. Simmo may well have done his ankle again - hopefully Macca will be back for Histon on Saturday - no news yet on Jonah who's to see a specialist. Thanks to Paul for his camera work and Phil for his notes.

Every game has it's own pitfalls - every game is an obstacle as Town press on with their attempt to bring back Premier Division football to The Pilot Field - but this one was looked at as a big one with Histon having been there or thereabouts virtually all season. 63 goals scored - only 29 let in - this was a useful side that was still in with a big shout of a top two finish. How would Town deal with them?

It pitched down with rain - uncanny timing - at around 2.55 and there were real concerns that if it continued the game might not last more than a few minutes. Both teams were to initially struggle on the resultant wet surface with the middle and penalty boxes well soaked. But Town shook off that spell and started to knock the ball around nicely with an interchange between Messrs Ruddy, Myall and Yates a real pleasure to watch.

That opening 20 minutes saw the two sides sussing each other out and it was on 20 minutes that Town made the vital break through. Referee Bentley - having not let advantage work it's course as Macca came away with the ball after a foul on Landry - awarded a free kick which Macca chipped into the box where Mylie headed back across the goalmouth for Adam Flanagan to head home inside the keeper's far post. Any moans about the advantage not being played were immediately silenced by this quality set piece sequence of play which made Flanners our equal top scorer.

Town might have added to their tally as the goal knocked Histon aback - Macca went on a good run with a shot going narrowly wide - Flanners set Rudds up only for the keeper to save well - but a timely reminder that we were up against a good side came on 32 minutes when King Dave had to get down sharpish to deal with a long range skidding effort. Landry - who's not quite what he was in his first few games - is still a big player in the side and his well judged pass to Yatesie needed a first rate tackle to dispossess Steve as he bore down on goal. A long Mylie throw saw Flanners set up Tony Burt but he couldn't get the right direction on his shot as Town ended the half well on top.

Macca saw a free kick saved at the foot of the post on 47 minutes - Histon went close with a header from a corner 3 minutes later - and then an outstanding piece of skill from Nick Hegley who, picking the ball up 25-30 yards out, saw the keeper just off his line and lobbed him to double Town's lead. A thoroughly well deserved goal for Nick who's got better and better the longer he's been in the side. Histon were only to mount one serious threat on goal after that blow - and it wouldn't have counted even if it had gone in as a player was offside.

Landry and Macca combined to set up Yatesie who brought another good save out of the Histon keeper as Town pressed for a third. Macca's mouth nearly got the better of him after he'd been fouled by the Histon 8. But referee Bentley's loud and clear warning that a red card would result if the chops continued seemed to have the desired effect - but at one stage it had taken Stuart Playford's bearhug on Macca to stop him seeking retribution. Daft really - cos to all intents and purposes, Macca had been fouled and a free kick had been awarded so why all the afters? Yellow cards to both players resulted. Not long afterwards the Histon 5 was hugely fortunate not to get a straight red for terminating a Macca run in abrupt fashion.

Just before the end - Landry was subbed and on came Jonah. Still time for another piece of Yates skill which saw him shrug off two tackles, side step another in the box and plant a shot against the foot of a post. Steve does blow hot and cold - but this particular phase showed him at his very best and a goal would have been just desserts.

But we settled for 2-0, especially when we heard Dorchester had only been able to draw with Wisbech at The Avenue Stadium. Sadly - Ashford did us no favours going down 0-3 at home to Gruntham who have rediscovered their good form while Dorchester have picked up a point from their last three games.

Up till this game - the best one of the season was probably that home encounter with Erith back on 24 November when Landry sealed an unreal 3-2 win in the 98th minute as 10 man Town battled back from 1-2 down with 20 minutes to go. Yeah - till this game - identical score line and every bit as much the thriller these same two teams served up just under four months ago. Town 2-0 up and coasting it at half time - Erith good and wound up for the second half putting our defence under huge pressure and pulling back to 2-2, Monster putting us 3-2 up - Erith then missing a penalty - yeah - this game had the bloody lot.

We missed the first couple of minutes - due it has to be said - to my navigational ineptness that saw us on the M25 heading towards Heathrow with the first junction where we could turn around being Junction 6 - bleedin miles away. Mark did well to get us to Welling's Park View Road where Erith groundshare when he did - I had visions of us missing the first 20 minutes.

Unfortunately - while receiving barrages of abuse from the very sizeable Town contingent - and while fumbling to get the camera out of the bag etc etc - I missed Chris's early goal which was similar to that classic he got at Tonbridge back in August. Macca broke down the left and fired in a cross that Monster deftly headed inside the far post to give us the lead against a fired up Erith who badly wanted to make amends for their defeat at The Pilot Field - and to try and make a dent in the great record we have against them - one defeat in 25 or so games.

Erith were still recovering from that early goal as the rain started to fall onto a greasy surface that was to cut up as the game proceeded. After efforts from Macca and Flanners had been tipped over and fired wide respectively, the lead was doubled on the quarter hour when Landry, spotting the home keeper off his line, came up with an even better version of Nick Hegley's goal against Histon. Great chip - great goal. Nick was to bring a good tip over save out of the keeper while Town's goal came under threat a couple of times - a cross flashing across the goal mouth and King Dave pulling off a good save low down to his right - but overall it was by far Town's half.

As for the second 45 (news had filtered through that Dorchester were leading Histon 1-0) - Erith came out good and fired up and that combined with Town's heads seemingly in the clouds was to lead to several panic inducing moments amongst the voluble Town travelling support. Just after a free kick had been deflected wide of Dave's goal, Erith reduced the arrears (52 minutes) when Burtie's failed clearance attempt from a corner saw the ball fly off his head to the far post where it was tucked in from a foot or two out. It got worse on 62 minutes - when just as it looked as if we'd weathered the storm and were threatening to get back on top - Erith equalised from a quickly hit free kick which Dave did well to get to but could only watch as the ball rebounded off a post - across the goal mouth and off the other post before being hammered into the net. Huge celebrations amongst the home players - they were well made up with it while we could only stand drop jawed at the other end.

But the celebrations didn't last long. A nice interchange between Landry and Macca resulted in Macca firing in a shot the keeper couldn't hold and the ball held up nicely in the muddy 6 yard box for the onrushing Monster to hammer home the easiest goal he'll get all season. So - three minutes after we'd been pegged back to 2-2, we were 3-2 ahead, and three minutes after THAT - Stuart Playford conceded a penalty which - to the huge delight of the Town contingent - the Erith 9 blasted wide of Dave's right hand post. That might just be one of the defining moments of this season - the sense of relief when he missed!

The game was end to end after that - and it was a surprise there were no more goals. Plenty of niggle - tackles flying in everywhere and it was also a surprise nobody was booked. Burty went closest for Town after the penalty miss - his header just wide. Landry - who's suspension start Saturday - was replaced by Jonah for the last 9 minutes as Town held out for a vital three points.

As for Erith - they were very good in that second half and every bit as much a handful as they'd been at The Pilot Field and must've been gutted to lose this one. A draw might well have been a fair result - it was certainly one hell of a game and well worth the fiver admission. As for the effects on health - well, I don't know if this football's such a good thing after all. Maybe I'll start smoking again - the old roll ups have to be better than all this agony.

Any neutrals seeing Town's last two games will have gone away thinking this non league stuff's got a lot going for it - but for us who follow Town - and spare a thought for those who follow Spalding - this latest big step towards that big prize was a nerve wrenching one - even more so than the game at Erith on Tuesday night.

Town had to be big time favourites to win this one - 7 league wins on the bounce, hadn't conceded a home goal since the Stains farce on Feb 5th, top of the league - and up against a Spalding side that had lost 11 on the trot, had a centre half in goal as their keeper had pulled out with domestic strife to deal with, and for the third Saturday on the trot conceded a goal in the opening minute when Monster bundled the ball in at the foot of a post. It could so easily have been 2-0 in 2 minutes - scramble on the goal line, ball cleared off the line, Jonah back in for his first 90 minutes since injury at Arundel denied by another goal line clearance - and yet for all that - Town found themselves 1-2 down with 7 minutes gone as Spalding took full advantage of two slips in defence with a couple of quick breaks.

Your correspondent's worst fears had been realised - I'd said to Ron Cook at the top gate that Spalding had given us two tough games on their previous visits, winning 3-2 in 99/00 and losing 2-3 last season. That first half was all one way traffic as Town tried to get back into the game. Jonah could well have had four goals - that goal line clearance, a couple of good saves by the stand in keeper and a mis-directed header. Other close shaves as Tony Burt, Adam Flanagan, Stuart Myall and Steve Yates all went frustratingly close. Having had to pick the ball out of the net twice in the opening 7 minutes, King Dave had virtually nothing to do as Town piled on the pressure but still - unbelievably - went in down at half time.

Having heard that Grantham were beating Chatham 3-0 (Er - that only after Peter Huggins in the PA box inadvertently given out that score as Grantham 0 Chatham 3!) and Dorchester were drawing 1-1 at Tonbridge, we duly waited for our second half to start hoping that things would work out. We surely couldn't lose this one - could we?

The longer that second half went on the more frustrating it got. And the more Town applied the pressure, the more gaps started to open in our defence - especially after Burty was subbed in favour of Steve Restarick with about 20 minutes to go. Monster headed a Stuart Myall cross wide, a superb break by Yatesie took him into the box where his lay off resulted in a scuffed shot by an unmarked Nick Hegley, Burty was to have a header cleared off the line and Macca's fierce effort from outside the box brought a great tip over save out of Alex Irvine the stand in keeper who performed heroically throughout.

Spalding might have done better with the couple of decent second half opportunities that presented them with chances to wrap the game up - but poor finishing was to cost them dear. Time wasting and injuries started to really piss the Town supporters off - some of it was so blatant that it was amazing the referee didn't appear to do anything about it..... or so we thought.

86 minutes on the clock - a big cheer as Jonah broke into the box and placed a fine effort wide of Irvine to level the scores. At that stage we'd have settled for a point - because in the 10 minutes or so prior to his goal - Town's game had started to go awry with passes being misplaced, those gaps appearing at the back etc etc etc - but the big bonus came well into the stoppage time (quite rightly) added when Jonah's break into the box ended over an outstretched leg. Macca planted the spot kick just inside the post to spark off huge celebrations as we got of jail for the second time in under a week.

No doubt about it - we had the big break in the end with the penalty. Looking at it (in the bar) on the camera afterwards - mixed opinions - interestingly Stuart Playford didn't think it was while one of the Spalding lads who had a look was adamant it was. Speaking for myself - I've seen penalties given for a lot less - and I do think it was a penalty anyway. Whatever - on the balance of play alone - we deserved to win it but you had to feel for Spalding who worked their nuts off and were so close to ending their long losing run. We had the break (and a 94th minute penalty rightly or wrongly given can't be anything other than a break!) of a winning side while Spalding had the luck of a losing side.

Banbury can't have been relishing a 300 mile midweek round trip to The Pilot Field - the journey itself, having to take on a side that was on a 8 league game winning run and the worst away record in the division of 6 draws and 10 defeats in 16 games on the road to wrap it up.

Well - Chris, Paul and I clacking away in the club shop prior to kick off were saying that after the nerve end wrecking games against Erith and Spalding, it'd be nice to be 3-0 up at half time and just sit back and enjoy the game. And that was just how it turned out to be as - apart from 5 minutes or so in the second half, Banbury were a poor second best as Town dominated all aspects of the game - and played some fine football into the bargain. 488 through the gates - a very respectable midweek attendance by Eastern Division standards - and well entertained they were to be too.

No Tony Burt - he took a rest to give a dodgy knee a chance to recuperate. Paul Ruddy wore the 5 shirt with Simmo coming back into the side and playing a fine role throughout as a sweeper. Town started well on top and on 6 minutes Stuart Myall's angled shot was beaten away for a corner. After Simmo had seen a free kick go just wide - a spectacular save from the keeper who did well to tip over a long range effort from Rudds. The keeper was to get away with a fumble of a Nick Hegley shot on 13 minutes - but 3 minutes later Town were 1-0 up when a Mylie long throw was flicked on by Flanners for Rudds to fire home from close in.

2-0 on 38 minutes when a Mylie shot was half saved by the keeper only for Monster to score from a foot or so out - the third "miss that and you'll never live it down" goal he's scored in as many games. But for sheer brilliance - Macca's long range swerving effort just before half time was always going to be the highlight of the evening - the keeper never moved. Great goal and we'd got our 3-0 interval lead. The half time tea tasted even better when we heard Sittingbourne were 2-1 up at home to Grantham.

Town started the second half as they'd finished the first. Steve Yates saw an effort clip a post, Jonah had two great chances - first one was well saved and his second in a one on one saw him curl an effort just wide of a post. Banbury had a short spell where they put King Dave under some pressure but they never really looked as if they'd ever get back into the game. Steve Restarick came on after 70 minutes - replacing Jonah - and an inspired substitution it was as he was on hand to tap home Town's 4th a minute later after a Hegley cross had evaded the Banbury defence - that was Steve's first touch of the game. His debut goal for Town on just his second appearance resulted in the Boswell Barmy Army bursting into a rendition of "And we hate Crawley, and we hate Crawley, we are the Crawley haters" which was one way of celebrating a goal. Quick thinking on someone's part - almost as good as "Super Mo's a wanker" up at Fisher recently!

Town had other chances to add to their tally but settled for 4-0 and the great news that Sittingbourne had done us a great favour by beating Grantham 2-1 (a result, incidentally, that dumped Stains at the bottom of the division).

While we have sorted out half the Sittingbourne jinx - beating them at their place - we still can't do the business at home and this horrendous, tension ridden game saw that winless Pilot Field run against them extended to 8 games - Won 0, Drawn 7, Lost 1. Speaking for myself, I look on this is a point gained because last season and the season before, we'd have lost games like this - games that had basically been one way traffic and the side under all the pressure sneaking a win they never deserved. And - AND - it has to be said we've been getting the breaks recently as the wins at Erith and at home to Spalding testify.

Sittingbourne came to clog, to scrap, to close us down and manager Mark Beeney's plan worked. Ex Leeds and Brighton keeper Beeney was between the sticks himself for this one and he didn't have a great deal to do apart from take lots of time with his goal kicks and clearances from back passes.

Jonah could've been involved in a couple of early goals as Town started reasonably well. The Sittingbourne 5 was unbelievably lucky not to get a red card for his foul on Paul who was clear on goal - how referee Greening didn't see that as a clear "last defender" foul was beyond us. And Paul might've had a penalty another day when his break into the box saw him go down. Greening obviously thought the defender got the ball first - and to be fair - looking at it on the video afterwards was inconclusive.

Simmo - another good game (Burty on the bench again - resting his dodgy knee) - was to go close with a well hit free kick as Town applied pressure without ever really getting going.

Town had a warning they would have to be alert after a goal mouth scramble finished with the ball hacked away as Sittingbourne threatened - and the best effort on goal came from their 4 on half an hour when he hit a long range effort just wide and over. The referee continued to infuriate the home support with what seemed odd priorities - booking a Sittingbourne defender for getting in the way of a free kick and then being oblivious to a nasty challenge on Macca which was right in front of him. He was, however, eagle eyed enough to spot an equally blatant foul by Macca in the second half and yellow carded him. Inconsistency!

Sittingbourne had a goal ruled out for a foul on King Dave - the whistle went well before the ball went over the line while at the other end - Nick Hegley headed a Jonah cross over as half time loomed.

More of the same in the second half as Sittingbourne at least showed a bit more inclination to cross the half way line. There was to be more activity in the Town area with Dave kept on his toes on a couple of occasions in front of the vociferous Sittingbourne following - definitely the noisiest we've seen at The Pilot Field this season. Beeney did well to get a hand to a Flanners header from a Macca free kick - he seemed off balance but recovered to punch the ball clear from under the cross bar with Chris Honey in close attendance.

But it was still so frustrating and the longer the game went on - the more tense it got - the more home supporters envisaged Sittingbourne rubbing our noses right in it by grabbing that late winner. Lots of time wasting and injuries a la Spalding - it was to turn into one of those bloody games that you just knew we were going to get not a lot from. And for all that we might still have won it - nice little interchange between Yatesie and Steve Restarick saw a cross to the far post where a diving Stuart Playford's header struck the post before being booted clear - that on 84 minutes.

0-0 it finished - just about the worst game of the season - Town couldn't get going - too many passes misplaced - not a hint of the fluency that demolished Banbury or took Erith apart for 30 minutes - BUT - we remain 7 points clear and let's face it - having taken 4 points off a Sittingbourne side that had just done the same to high scoring Gruntham - a Sittingbourne side that won at Dorchester at the turn of the year - and given our poor home record against them - it has to be looked at as a point gained.