Vigo managed to lose this game in injury time, managing to pluck defeat from what should have been a creditable draw. However, indiscipline once more, cost them dear. Blame could not be placed on the referees shoulders for this defeat as the penalties were so obvious, even in the near darkness most of the match seemed to be played in.

Sittingbourne, with much of the play in the first half, had gone behind in the opening minutes to a Dan Norton penalty, but Vigo gave away three crass penalties which were punished by Spitfires skipper Scott Truss, with easy kicks to put Vigo 9-3 down at the break. Played in constant drizzle, the weather dictated that passing by both sides would be a lottery, but the home side’s kicking game was much more precise than Vigo’s. The home full back, Roo Nanson,was made to look good with Vigo’s kicking which was constantly too long for the chasers to get up and put him under pressure. Consequently, the better chances fell to Sittingbourne as Scott Truss’s trusty boot put Vigo’s defenders under constant pressure. Fortunately, Sittingbourne’s handling was woeful, and the few scoring chances they fashioned went begging. Vigo defended grimly, but the penalties cost them dear.
In the second half, with the slight slope, Vigo began to move into gear, with Tom Emmitt threatening to cut loose at times. The home defence was too good, but they began to give away penalties under pressure from the Villagers. Dan Norton nervelessly kicked a brace to level the score with just a few minutes left. Just when it looked that Vigo would return with a creditable draw disaster struck in injury time. As by now, it was too dark to see my notes, I can only go by hearsay what was happening on the other side of the pitch. Apparently,Vigo had the throw at a lineout but managed to lose the ball. Some say that they just could not see the ball properly in the gloom but the outstanding Spitfires’ flanker , Matt Hobson certainly could. He scooped up the loose ball and sped into the corner with Vigo’s defenders either transfixed in shock, or just could not see him (although his bald pate reflected the lights from the spectators cigarettes). Whatever, he plunged gratefully over in the corner (apparently), Scott Truss’s conversion from the touchline was miraculous, considering the darkness (confirmed by the touch judges as no-one else could quite make out the flight of the ball.