In a dramatic conclusion to their league encounter, Sittingbourne secured a 2-1 victory over Croydon with a stoppage-time goal from Harvey Smith in the 96th minute. The match, a repeat of last season’s playoff semi-final, saw both teams contesting fiercely at the home ground of Sittingbourne on Saturday.

Croydon started brightly, demonstrating strong ball control and passing to dominate early possession. Despite their efforts, they struggled to penetrate Sittingbourne’s disciplined defense. The opening goal came against Croydon when their defense hesitated, anticipating an offside flag that never came. Seizing the opportunity, Khavarn Williams broke through from an onside position and finished confidently to give Sittingbourne the lead.

Prior to the goal, Sittingbourne’s Jack Paxman had an effort from distance that struck the crossbar, narrowly missing an earlier chance to score. After halftime, Croydon responded effectively with a goal from substitute Brandon Pierrick, who drilled a shot into the net to level the match.

The contest remained tightly poised as it entered its final stages. However, Croydon’s Finley Marjoram was shown a second yellow card with five minutes remaining, reducing the visitors to ten men. This numerical disadvantage proved crucial in the closing moments. Harvey Smith capitalized on the situation, finding the net deep into stoppage time to secure the win for Sittingbourne.

The result marks a significant turnaround from the previous season’s playoff encounter between the two teams, with Sittingbourne emerging on top in this tightly contested fixture.