Miles Rutherford & Co, unsurprisingly, went with the same starting XI that battled for a point last time out at Cray Valley PM and prevented the Londoners from scoring in an Isthmian South East game for the first time this season.
Here, the hosts came into the match on the back of seven wins in seven games, hitting the back of the net on 22 occasions and only conceding twice in that sequence.
The Brickies forced a corner 60 seconds in but Harry Hope’s kick landed on the roof of the net.
Then Mitchell May played the ball towards Hope, although the Chi backline cleared and the follow-up resulted in a goal-kick.
Emmett Dunn tidied up the next attack and captain Connor Cody hooked away.
Bagasan Graham was presented with a chance to cross after the visitors’ right-back slipped but May headed awry.
Danny Parish pulled one off target on seven minutes from May’s pass, and Wild and Josh Clack caused a bit of pressure. However, the home team turned the ball out for a throw-in.
Further chaos ensued following Bello’s long throw as first Joe Moore had a shot, and then Clarke reacted first to the loose ball and slammed home the opener.
Less than a minute later Ayman El-Mogharbel picked out Graham for a poor delivery and El-Mogharbel hit an effort well-off goal.
Bello and Conrad Honore linked up on 11 minutes but Honore should have had a go rather than elect to return the ball.
Chi’s keeper was called into action to get to El-Mogharbel’s cross-cum-shot who was moments later flagged offside.
Next, CB Curtis Da Costa cut out May’s cut back and Rob Hutchings was caught, but no foul according to ref Teddy Osborn.
The hosts had to replace the injured Luke Woodward with Donvieve Jones early doors before some intense pinball in the away side’s box saw things eventually smuggled cleared.
Clack won a foul at the mid-point that led to nothing; defenders broke up another Brickies’ move; and Honore got man-handled and Alex Bentley escaped a yellow card.
Graham’s free-kick was snuffed out by Dunn and fellow full back on the other side Hutchings did well on 27.
A hit from Clack then bounced off the top of the bar after Chi forged a couple of chances.
Bello doubled the West Sussex team’s lead though around the half hour mark with a crisp shot into the bottom right hand corner for his eighth league goal of the campaign.
Wild had an effort blocked; Magee was apparently fouled trying to grab a loose ball; and El-Mogharbel’s forward pass to May was too strong.
Good work from Moore, Clarke and Bello resulted in a pass from Wild to Honore and an attempt that was blocked.
A ball by Hope couldn’t pick out a teammate and five minutes before half time Wild had an opportunity as the ball glanced across the face of the goal.
Bello’s long throw then wouldn’t quite fall to Wild or another player for that matter.
His next throw-in got cleared and a Chi shot was headed away for the visitors’ first corner of the match.
Hutchings took this and Da Costa headed narrowly wide.
Another two decent opportunities came and went as well and Clarke couldn’t get a touch at the back post.
In time added on, Sittingbourne’s keeper Bobby Mason denied Wild with an amazing stop; Magee blocked one too; Honore was cautioned; and Hutchings headed safely back to his No1 on the half time whistle.
El-Mogharbel spurned the first chance after the break.
Clarke was then fouled and Hutchings’ set-piece was steered out for a corner kick which Hutchings delivered deep.
Clarke received some treatment and El-Mogharbel was booked before being replaced by Stefan Ilic.
May drilled a shot wide of the mark on 54 and Jones did Clack, took on Hutchings, and played over a wayward cross.
Clack lifted an effort over and Moore’s jinking run led to him pulling the trigger and Mason making a save.
Then May cut inside and blazed over as things opened up.
Magee slipped but punted the ball out; May’s header from a corner went off target; and Cody headed Jones’ cross out for a corner.
Mo Jammeh came on for Honore in the 81st minute before the hosts’ Mike Turner headed wide and Jammeh tried to lob Mason.
Next, Hutchings forced Mason into a save at his near post before Wild smashed the ball home with his third goal in as many games.
Hutchings went into the notebook in time added on; Clack struck one high and wide; Olly Munt and Kyle O’Brien replaced Moore and Clack; and Hutchings at the death directed the ball away after Magee flapped at a free-kick.
So, the visitors, who drew with second place Cray Valley last week, took all the spoils against third spot Sittingbourne this week and ended the Kent team’s run of seven victories on the bounce. Up next for Chi, is Sevenoaks at Oaklands Park, now one place from the play-offs, on Saturday 24th of February (Kick Off 3pm).
Chichester – Magee, Bello, Hutchings, Moore, Da Costa, Cody, Clack, Clarke, Wild, Honore, Bello. Subs – (Jammeh, O’Brien, Munt, Haitham).
