After reaching the first round of the Isuzu FA Trophy last weekend, Sittingbourne return to Isthmian League action this weekend as they welcome Broadbridge Heath to Swale as the Brickies look to keep pace with the early season pace setters. 

“It’s back to the bread and butter of the Isthmian League season after our great win last weekend!” boss Ryan Maxwell told KSN this week. “Saturday is what our season is all about – the Isthmian League campaign!” 

“We know we have a tough game in store this weekend against a Broadbridge Heath side who have started very well, and we know what we are in for at Woodstock on Saturday. Make no mistake, it will be a tough game and a very, very important game for us as well I believe. We are in good form and must kick on and get our home form up to top speed, we had a great result against Hashtag United last Saturday and we want to continue in the same vein on Saturday.” 

“You get all sorts of different tests during a season, and last Saturday was no different as the weather was certainly one of them. We had a very strong wind with us in the first half, and we had to adjust to that with the ball running on a bit. 

“We managed to get a goal and what a goal it was from Chris Arthur, I thought we did our jobs playing with the win and did well as we rolled up our sleeves and stuck to the task at hand. Chrissy’s goal was top, top-drawer technique – make no mistake there aren’t many players who can hit a ball like that on the half volley from a corner!  

“Top drawer that was, if it was on TV and in the League, you’d have seen it everywhere and he’s a centre half remember and must get some serious credit as that isn’t easy to do! I’m delighted for Chris as it’s been a long time coming!” 

“The boys did that well and then in the second half, with the wind against us, I thought it suited us to get the ball down and play a little bit more. I thought we defended well, our shape was great, and the discipline was top draw; a proper team performance!” 

The Brickies then bowed out of the Kent Senior on Tuesday with a 4-1 defeat at National League Tonbridge Angels, but Maxwell was upbeat about the result and admitted, “We mixed things round, we had some players who I hadn’t seen play before, and we had five making their debuts for us and I think that showed at times.  

“We were competitive, it was only 2-1 at the break there were positives – Mikey (Salako) got another goal; Ike (Akiljo) had minutes in midfield for the first time and was unlucky, hitting the post and Mikey scoring the rebound.  

“We had other chances too – a one on one; a shot just past the post, there were some good performances as well but ultimately it was about getting people out there and we did and hopefully some of them in the squad this weekend and then in the future!”