Crawley Down Gatwick 0 Sittingbourne 3: Anvils extend winless streak

The display was in marked contrast to their opening few games of the season when they sat on top of the table.

After a goalless first half, Sittingbourne scored all three goals after the break beginning with a penalty by Hitcham Akhazzan, followed six minutes later with a goal headed in by Nick Treadwell from a corner.

Sittingbourne went into overdrive in injury-time and added a third goal in the 94th minute.

Down made three changes from their side which had been thumped 7-3 against Worthing on Wednesday night with the return from injury of goalkeeper Kieron Thorpe, centre back Charlie Hollness and striker Tim Rivers who had been ill. They replaced stand-in keeper Pawel Szelemej, Marvin Farrell who is injured and Jamie Hills who was on the bench.

Dapo Kayode switched from right midfield to right back in place of Farrell.

There were few chances created by either side in the first half. Trevor McCreadie had a go for Crawley Down but blasted wide and Ashley Elson drove across the face of goal from a breakaway move.

Thorpe got down well to keep out a deflected shot by Sittingbourne’s Tom Loynes, while the visitors went close from a move involving Akhazzan and Nick Dunsdon which was off-target.

Thorpe caught a well-taken headed effort by Omar Folkes.

Ashley Ewerse-Elson put a cross from the right wide before George Cousins did well on a run into the area, dummying a defender before lifting a shot over the bar.

Moments later Sittingbourne were in front as Down gave away a penalty courtesy of Hollness who brought down Folkes and Akhazzan gave the vistors the lead from the ensuing spot-kick.

Akhazzan then supplied Treadwell from a corner kick for a headed second goal and Sittingbourne were well on the way to victory.

Down offered little by way of a fight back although McCreadie forced a diving save from 20 yards by Sittingbourne keeper Adam Molloy.

Substitute Wade Eason and Chris Breach were shown yellow cards as frustration crept into Down’s game.

In added-time Sittingbourne keep Down under continuous pressure and sealed victory with a well-taken third goal by Treadwell.

Crawley Down Gatwick: Thorpe, Kayode, Roberts (Hills 46), Carey, Breach, Hollness, Cousins (Eason 80), Holloway, McCreadie, Rivers, Ewerse-Elson

Unused subs: Howard-Bold, Robinson, Cox

Referee: Jim Patterson

Attendance: 107