Sittingbourne 4 Merstham 2 match report: Ade Azeez (2), Mitchell May and Ryan Kingsford fire Brickies into Isthmian South East play-off final

Sittingbourne ran riot in the second half against Merstham to reach the Isthmian South East play-off final.

Mitchell May broke the deadlock and set up the second for Ryan Kingsford as the Brickies took charge of Tuesday night’s semi-final at Woodstock.

Ade Azeez scored either side of a freak Korrey Henry goal as the Brickies went 4-1 up.

Fin Johnson grabbed a second for Merstham at the death.

Ryan Maxwell’s side were good value for their win and will host Burgess Hill - winners over Margate - in the final on Friday.

Runners-up Sittingbourne finished 23 points clear of fifth-placed Merstham in the table and went through the season unbeaten at home.

All that goes out the window in the play-offs but the Brickies certainly looked more dangerous of the two sides.

They steadily got on top as the first half progressed with Richie Hamill, as ever, keeping play ticking over with that lovely left foot of his.

Sittingbourne put the ball into good areas and carried threats in attack with Kingsford picking up possession in the No.10 role and May and Azeez working in tandem up top to keep the Merstham defence on their toes.

The Moatsiders backline were also kept honest from Hamill’s set-pieces and Bagasan Graham’s long throws.

Two big chances fell May’s way in a goalless first half.

The first saw him miss the target by inches after Kingsford ran on to Hamill’s ball down the line and squared.

The second saw him narrowly fail to connect at the back post after Ayman El-Mogharbel headed Ade Azeez’s cross back across goal. Any sort of touch would have done.

Hamill also threatened from distance while, at the other end, Roco Rees was equal to Lee Lewis’ 20-yard strike.

Sittingbourne made a good start to the second half and it looked as