Arlesey Town round-up ARLESEY Town followed neighbours Hitchin out of the FA Trophy this week. The Blues were beaten 2-1 at home by Sittingbourne on Tuesday night after Saturday s initial goalless draw to miss out on the chance to host British Gas Busines

Arlesey Town round-up

ARLESEY Town followed neighbours Hitchin out of the FA Trophy this week.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 at home by Sittingbourne on Tuesday night after Saturday's initial goalless draw to miss out on the chance to host British Gas Business Premier side Bath City in the next round.

Arlesey, in control in the first half, paid the price for not finishing the tie off when they had the chance.

They started well and Ozie Foster left his marker for dead as he slipped a square ball in from the left. Lee Tekell just failed to make contact for what would have been the opener.

Sittingbourne had a shot that shaved Jack Rashid's upright.

Then the Blues went close as as a curling shot from Michael McKenzie took a slight deflection and came off the upright just out of reach of the incoming Foster.

McKenzie timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap but his shot was kept out by the keeper's outstretched foot.

A Martyn Williams hard low shot was pushed round the post as the half finished with Arlesey dominating but with nothing to show for it.

The new half started with the Sittingbourne goal leading a charmed life, the ball twice deflected behind for a corner.

Arlesey were almost caught out when Kam Singh headed fractionally wide.

But it was the home side who took the lead on 55 minutes when Tekell received the ball 25 yards out and put in a superb strike to give keeper Williams no chance.

Andy Doerr then had the ball in the Arlesey net but it was harshly ruled out for handball.

Sittingbourne did equalise from a corner on 64 minutes when Arlesey failed to clear and Paul Ainsworth slammed the loose ball home.

The pace of the match hotted up even more as both sides sensed the opportunity to win the game in the 90 minutes.

Williams' shot skirted the upright before a flowing move from Sittingbourne should have seen the tie swing in their favour but Mitchell Sherwood hit his shot high over the bar.

Tekell's free-kick was headed across the face of the goal by James Gray just beyond the reach of Foster.

But it was Sittingbourne who grabbed the decisive goal in the 86th minute when Sherwood was allowed to carry the ball to the edge of the Arlesey penalty area and gleefully unleash a shot past Rashid into the far corner.

Blues: Rashid, K Fehmi, Bloss, Williams, Dogbe, Gray, Tekell, McElroy, McKenzie, Foster, Rydeheard.

Arlesey's long trip to Kent ended in a goalless draw in Saturday's first meeting.

For the first time in four matches, caretaker player-manager Darran Hay made a change, Rashid returning from suspension in goal for the luckless Luke Bliss.

Steve Dogbe had a fine game and took the man of the match honours.

There were only three good chances in the 90 minutes - one to the visitors and two midway through the second half for The Brickies.

Arlesey should have taken the lead in the first minute as McKenzie made ground on the left.

His cross eluded the home defence but Foster headed straight at keeper Williams from close range.

Arlesey also put together a sweeping move that ended with Williams linking with Kaan Fehmi only for his effort from 20 yards to drift narrowly wide.

Sittingbourne opened the second period intent on becoming a more attacking force but the Blues defence held firm.

Home skipper Marsh missed the best opening of the game when he shot tamely wide after Lovell had played him in.

In the 79th minute, home woe was complete when Searle beat Rashid with a cross-shot only to see his effort hit the inside of the post and rebound to safety.

Jason Thomas came on for Foster and Hay for McKenzie in the closing stages.

Blues: Rashid, Fehmi, Bloss, Williams, Dogbe, Gray, Tekell, Beevor, McKenzie (Hay 87m), Foster (Thomas 79m), Rydeheard.