Sittingbourne concluded pre-season with a hugely creditable 1-1 draw against Isthmian premier side Brentwood Town at the Staxson Stadium leaving boss Reece Prestedge happier going into next weekend’s opening League game with AFC Croydon Athletic. 

In a bizarre “start” to the Southeast season, there are only two fixtures because Emirates FA Cup involvement and for the Brickies their new season begins in exactly the same place the last one ended in the Play Off Semi Finals when Croydon won 2-0 in the Semi Finals before suffering the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Final! 

Prestedge has been rebuilding during pre-season, and despite not winning any of their seven pre-season games, the Brickies have shown improved performances in all of them and came agonisingly close to that elusive victory. 

Darren Foxley had an industrious opening half and would have been disappointed not to have got on the score sheet early on – shooting inches wide and looping a second effort onto the roof of the net. Foxley then raced onto Jordan Greenidge’s through ball and the Brentwood trialist keeper made a really good save! 

In an open game and a great response from the home side after their midweek drubbing at AFC Whyteleafe, chances came at both ends – Foxley denied again whilst at the other end Sach fired over for Brentwood, before Berry was denied by a brave Jamie Grosshart in the Brickies goal. 

The deadlock was broken on the stroke of the break when defender Dexter Peter’s delightful touch fell perfectly for Greenidge who superbly placed the ball into the corner. 

The second period was played at much end of pre-season pace although Reiss Greenidge so very nearly followed his brother onto the scoresheet with a header – from a Bagasan Graham centre – which was cleared off the line. Brentwood got their equaliser with a penalty which appeared soft, but few complained and Sach duly rolled the ball home. 

Talking after the final whistle, reflecting on the last six weeks and the Brickies tough looking start to the season, manager Prestidge told us, “We planned the pre-season games for the season ahead and the last four games have been really tough games against higher teams and that is exactly what we wanted!”

“We used the first three games for match fitness and trialists, and we played some really good teams in there. We knew that we had to use that as a stepping stone to the fitness level that we want to match fitness.” 

“Everyone who has come in has gelled really well. There’s already understanding and partnerships developing game to game which is working and combination play is coming off.”  

“Over the last few games I think we have had to treat the games more and more like a normal League match day as you’re looking for that mentality to take you into the season.”

“Players have got to want to go out there and do the right things and look to win football games as it is a momentum game, it’s a mentality game and I think you have to get that right before you go into the first game of the season which for us is at Croydon on Saturday!” 

“We have some leaders in this team,” Prestedge went on, “The standard will always be set from previous players for players coming in and that’s exactly what we wanted so that they can step in and demand from each other!”

“Everyone who has stayed has bought into it again and have seen a good part of helping the new boys come in smoothly, but as I said the ones who have come in have pushed the boundaries and the standards!” 

Looking at the Brickies start – away to Croydon and then home to relegated Cray Valley PM, Prestedge told us, “Sometimes you would rather play these sorts of teams early on because it can tell you where you’re at as a team with everyone still finding their feet still!”