Sittingbourne go into their first home Isthmian South East game of the new season looking to build on their terrific win at AFC Croydon Athletic, when Kevin Lisbie’s Cray Valley PM visits the Staxson Stadium Woodstock at the weekend. 

And boss Reece Prestedge knows that last weekend’s points won by goals from Kharvan Williams and a ninety-sixth minute winner from Harvey Smith must not be “wasted” when Valley visit Swale this weekend. 

“We had a great start last weekend – the first league game of any season everyone wants to win because otherwise you’re already chasing three points right at the start of the season,” Prestedge admitted this week. 

“We were away from home against one of the teams that will be fighting for the honours at the end it really was a great win!” 

“It was hot and difficult under foot too. The heat obviously didn’t help; we had the hydration breaks but with the heat and everything we experienced last weekend probably does drain players a little bit more.”

“It was tough conditions, but I thought that we handled it well! We know what we get from a Sittingbourne team – a lot of fight, a lot of desire and I think everyone who featured more than played their part and it was a real squad win.” 

“It’s always nice to come back to the Staxson, especially as we aren’t here too often to start the season mainly because we’ve been drawn away in all the Cups – FA Cup, FA Trophy and even the Kent Cup; it adds something even more special to playing at home as in the first couple of months we don’t have many fixtures there… we know what we want to do and expect at Woodstock – to go out week in and week out to make the place a Fortress again like we did last year.”  

“I think this League is even tougher than last year – it’s probably the most competitive Step Four League in the country – what with the extra Play Off spots now, more teams are going to “go for it” and because of that there are a lot of strong teams in the league this year.” 

“Cray Valley by some quirk is the only relegated Club to enter our division this year and they will be looking for a swift return to the Premier Division.”

“They will be one of the strong contenders – I think our first five league games are against strong contenders, so we have just got to do what we are doing and make sure that we go into every game prepared as much as we can do and that will continue into Cray as well!”