Sittingbourne welcome AFC Croydon Athletic to the Staxson Stadium on Saturday looking to protect their one hundred percent home League record and manager Ryan Maxwell keen to keep his side focused.
Reflecting on the Brickies latest triumph a 3-0 beating of Sevenoaks Town last weekend, Brickies boss Ryan Maxwell told KSN this week, “It was a very wet and windy day, wasn’t it?
“But it is part of the game and a reason that we all love this fantastic game of football, you have to deal with the elements and it gives you different tests and different challenges. Last Saturday saw a different kind of string to our bow in that we can handle those elements and I think that we understand it that when there’s good weather and 4G pitches.
“Get the ball down and play, but there are times when you can’t do that, and certainly we are in the time of year now where games will have to be won by hook or by crook rather than being pleasing on the eye.
“So, I was personally very, very pleased last Saturday. You must remember that Sevenoaks had only narrowly lost to Ramsgate the week before. We knew what we were up against in terms of quality and dangers and if we were not defensively right, we would have been caught out. But thankfully, we were very in control and limited them to very, very little, can’t even remember Harley having to make a save on Saturday! And that says a lot!”
November has been a terrific month for Maxwell’s side – unbeaten in the League and into the Third Round of the FA Trophy for the very first time!
The manager is naturally delighted as he admitted, “As we leave November, it’s time to reflect another great month for the Club. I look back at October and it was a similar month as well we are a bit spoiled at the minute.
“I am always keen to keep everyone’s feet on the ground but it has been a great month for SFC and all I can say is long may it continue, long may the goals keep coming, and long may the clean sheets keep coming too. It has been a great month and let’s hope for another one!”
Tuesday’s game at Littlehampton was postponed although not a surprise to Maxwell as he told us, “The only saving grace about Tuesday’s trip being called off was that we had prepared for the game not going ahead.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to rearrange for a quick turnaround next Tuesday and that’s a great positive as it gave us an extra session on Tuesday, the normal one on Thursday this week, today’s game and then a “new” fixture next Tuesday. Although not perfect it’s not the worst!”
“On Saturday, just like every other weekend we have to fully respect our opponents who are new to the League, there are no easy games in our division.
“It is without doubt the strongest it has ever been and therefore you have to prepare absolutely perfectly for every single game or you will be caught out and I cannot allow any distractions in terms of next week’s Trophy game coming into play.
“I will make sure that we give Croydon the full respect that we have done every week this season, there are so many good teams in the League that you have to make sure that you do not make your opposition lightly!”