For the first time since penalties denied Ryan Maxwell and Sittingbourne promotion from the Isthmian South East in May, the Brickies play their first league game at the Staxson Stadium on tonight as Ben Greenhalgh brings his Margate side up the Thanet Way for an enthralling early season league clash. 

Talking to KSN, Maxwell admitted that the play-off defeat against Burgess Hill still hurts, he told us.  

“A lot has gone on since our last competitive game here in May, but that Friday night is still I am sure, lodged in the mind of our supporters, I know it is mine!” he admitted.  

“The disappointment took a long time to leave my system and I’m sure it did the supporters too! But I look at that disappointment as a way to fuel us for this season if I am honest and that is the bottom line!” 

“We have used it as a fuel, turned the negative into a positive which is the only way to do it in my world. We haven’t dwelled, we have pushed on and now we have to react in a positive manner and that is what we have done throughout pre-season.” 

Eleven of Maxwell’s squad from last year have moved to teams higher up the pyramid meaning that effectively the Brickies boss has a brand-new squad to select from after some shrewd summer signings.  

“In terms of our pre-season recruitment, we still have the vision to get promoted and that has not changed!” Maxwell said.  

“Tonight, we go home to the Staxson Stadium, Woodstock for the first time, and it is a spiritual home for me now as well as the players who have been here a while, this is Bags (skipper Bagasan Graham) third season I believe, for instance! We must make sure that the new boys really understand what it is all about playing for Sittingbourne and for our supporters playing at home is so special in itself!” 

Reflecting on the win on opening day, the Brickies boss said, “We got a good start on Saturday and to get three points in a very sticky fixture away to Deal, a very tough game. Our overall performance was very strong I believe; we were a little bit sleepy at the beginning of the game but showed great pride and resilience to come back and score two quick goals and go onto control the second half. In truth I think we could have won four or five one!” 

“We still have gears to be found, probably hit three point five out of five on Saturday with glimpses of what is to come but tonight is a different animal completely.  

“Margate I am sure will feature in and around the top spots this year as they did last year of course. They have togetherness and cohesiveness as a team as they have stayed together, so we will have to combat that, but we are aware of it, well aware!  

“We must keep getting points on the board at this early stage as we will get better as a team in the coming weeks so all the points we get now will be very valuable because going into September and into mid-September, this team will kick on.” 

Image courtesy of Ian Scammell