When Ryan Maxwell took over at Woodstock Park fifteen months ago, Sittingbourne were languishing at the wrong end of the Isthmian South East division and were involved in a relegation fight. Fast forward to this weekend, and if the Brickies win at Three Bridges, they will clinch a Play Off spot… 

Reflecting on his side’s Easter campaign, and four points out of six, Maxwell told us, “I thought that the first half on Monday (at Ramsgate) was as close to the best 45 minutes that we have played all season.”

“It was great for Chris Harris to score twice in his first full 90 minutes in eight weeks – we have missed him – but really, we should have had more than the two goals we got.”

“We missed a great chance early on and then again right on half time before the referee gives them a way back into the game with an incredibly soft penalty.”

“I do believe that if that is not given, we do win the game, but full credit to them and the way they came at us. But it is a statement that we have come away from a ground where only two other teams have got anything in the League this season and been disappointed with the point.” 

“We played well against a Horndean side on Good Friday who recently beat Ramsgate, and had a comfortable win, and we were able to get some minutes into legs who haven’t been playing and were able to rest some minor injuries with what’s ahead in mind.” 

Ahead immediately for the Brickies, are two trips to Sussex – on Saturday they travel to fifth placed Three Bridges before hopefully trying to face Littlehampton Town on Tuesday for the fourth time of asking with the two sides not having met at all this season.

But Maxwell’s focus is fully on Saturday’s trip to Three Bridges. “It will be a tough afternoon again, and again, we will have to be on top of our game to get the points.”

“We have done well away from home this year and we will be looking to continue that, but they will be fighting for points, and we know that we are in for a really tough game.” 

The Brickies travel though in the knowledge that three points will guarantee at least a Play Off berth for the first time in the Club’s history.

“That was our goal at the start of the season,” the manager admitted.

“Obviously, we would have liked to be in the title fight, but it has been an amazing season. When you consider that 78 points won the Division last season, and Cray Valley and Ramsgate have both already got more than that this time – and we can still get 85 if we win all our games – we are close to achieving what we set out for this Football Club.”

“We’ve great fans who follow us in numbers and can be heard at every ground we go to – they are our twelfth man, and they deserve success. And we will be trying as hard as we can to give it to them…”