Sittingbourne face Cray Valley PM in the first round of the Isuzu FA Trophy this weekend eyeing another upset as the Brickies try to continue their love affair with the competition. 

Last season, Ryan Maxwell’s side made the last eight of the competition before being beaten by the eventual winners Aldershot Town, and this weekend, the Brickies will be looking to add the name of Valley to the list of sides from a higher division that they have beaten under Maxwell in the past two seasons. 

With the visitors currently at the wrong end of the Premier Division, it could be argued that the home side start as favourites but Maxwell’s side go into the tie having been well beaten by Faversham Town in their last outing – a fact that the manger emphasised when we spoke to him ahead of the weekend. 

“We will all agree that it was a disappointing game and result at Woodstock last Saturday,” he told us.  

“We weren’t at our best; it wasn’t the greatest of games; we missed vital first half chances and got punished later on, and I felt that it was a game that we didn’t quite turn up on the day to our usual standard particularly at Woodstock with our incredible record, but it was our first defeat here in twenty-seven League home games – it was tough to take, missing chances doesn’t help in terms of the way that you feel about the game.  

“It was a game where we were outplayed and of course you always shake hands saying, “the better team won”, but if we had punished them in the first half, I don’t feel as though they would have beaten us. 1-1 at the break and I thought we would come out and play better, but we didn’t defend in a couple of moments well and we lost the game – bottom line!  

“So, disappointing certainly particularly on the previous Tuesday away from home at Hastings, a good performance and a clean sheet, so we look to bounce back against Cray Valley, but we know we have another tough game ahead on Saturday afternoon and we’ve focused on the game since Monday morning!” 

The Brickies played them in pre-season winning 4-1 at the Artic Stadium in, but Maxwell told us, “I know we beat them in pre-season, but those results mean nothing, nothing at all – you are vetting players, bringing players in, changing formations and looking at things.  

“People get carried away in pre-season! Yes we played them in pre-season, but I’m sure that Macca (Valley boss Steve McKimm) wishes that they are having a better season than they are having to date, but I think ultimately that they are a team that have to be respected and have some excellent players – and I mean excellent players – so I have no doubt in my mind that they will click and go up their League, as will we also.  

“It’s still early days and we will get a very tough game on Saturday, we know this and they have some real talented individuals who can hurt you and we will have to defend really well! We will respect them for what we know they are, it will be a cracking game, I am sure!” 

“We have a couple of players who are cup-tied, I hope that there will be a very interesting inclusion in our squad by Saturday that will raise a few eyebrows within the club which hopefully will be very positive – I would have preferred another League game this weekend, but I love this Trophy!” 

“It will always now be special to me at this Football Club and gave us some incredible memories last season, and we are all strapped in ready for another rollercoaster!”