Men's 1st XI vs Sittingbourne M2

Words:             Dan Mees

Oppo:                Sittingbourne 2, Away

Final Score:    W 5-3

Goalscorers: Dan Vinson (2), Isaac Dilkes, Dan Mees (2).

“Cliftonville Produce Stunning Late Comeback at Sittingbourne”

Cliftonville travelled to Sittingbourne looking to build on last week’s performance, full of confidence, but with a nagging memory of the reverse fixture, a chaotic 3–3 draw where points slipped away. With regular first‑teamers Josh and Oscar still sidelined through injury, Ville knew this could be another difficult afternoon.

The game began brightly enough. Cliftonville moved the ball well, probing for openings, and the first real chance came when Cowelly whipped a ball into the D from just outside the 23, finding Jack Field ghosting in to deflect narrowly past the post. A promising start, but it didn’t last.

Sittingbourne struck first with a well‑worked move, making it 1–0 and knocking Cliftonville off balance. Ville responded, though. Mees broke through midfield, fed Harry, who threaded a clever reverse pass across the D for Dan Vinson to deflect home past the keeper. A classic Cliftonville move, one they’ve executed so often this season. Surely the momentum would swing their way now…

Instead, Sittingbourne hit back again. Another slick team goal, and Ville went into halftime trailing 2–1 and scratching their heads. The message at the break was simple: win the 50/50s, be more physical, and impose themselves on the game.

But within minutes of the restart, it was 3–1 Sittingbourne. Suddenly the question hung in the air, were they becoming Cliftonville’s bogey team, the Stoke City to Wenger’s Arsenal?

As the half wore on, Cliftonville struggled to find a breakthrough. Sittingbourne pushed for a fourth, and only sharp saves from Jamie and some desperate defending kept Ville in touching distance. With fifteen minutes left, it became a test of character, how badly did they want to win this league? It would have been easy to fold and hope Canterbury slipped up elsewhere.

But this team doesn’t fold.

A short corner arrived. Isaac stepped up and rifled a flick straight through the keeper to make it 3–2. Suddenly Sittingbourne looked rattled, their once‑comfortable lead feeling fragile. Cliftonville’s midfield began to find pockets of space, and the pressure mounted.

Another short corner. A mishap on the stop meant Isaac couldn’t get the drag‑flick away, but he improvised brilliantly, shifting into the D, firing a reverse shot that deflected into the path of Mees, who slapped it first‑time into the corner. 3–3. Less than six minutes left. Game on.

Most teams would settle. Cliftonville didn’t.

Jack Field found space on the right and picked out Mees in the D. One touch, one quick release, and the ball skidded into the bottom corner. 4–3. A stunning turnaround.

With two minutes left, Sittingbourne threw everything forward, until Dan Vinson dispossessed them in midfield, beat his defender, and finished with a composed reverse strike under the keeper to seal the comeback at 5–3.

A remarkable turnaround. A show of resilience, belief, and sheer refusal to give in. Cliftonville were pushed to the edge and answered emphatically.

SQUAD:

·      Dan Mees (Capt), Alex Cowell, Seb Cox, Isaac Dilkes, Jack Field, Harry Harrison, Tom Harrison, Jonathan Kay, Charlie Morgan, Alex Newson, James Provins, Jamie Ullyett, Dan Vinson.