Sittingbourne face two massive derbies this Bank Holiday weekend as they play Ramsgate and Ashford United in fifty Isthmian League hours that could be important even at such an early stage of the season. 

And boss Ryan Maxwell is taking no chances even though the Brickies started their league campaign by putting five past Broadbridge on day one and then winning 4-2 at Farnham Town last weekend to set up a mouthwatering FA Cup tie with Dover Athletic next weekend. 

Before then, Sittingbourne face two of their big-League rivals, Maxwell told us: “We have made an incredibly positive start to the season. The League win over Broadbridge was a great opener for us. They can be cagey affairs first games of the season; they can be very tense, and boys can be concerned about making mistakes rather than playing their own game

“Credit to the players, they played their natural games, they played in a relaxed style, and I was really, really, really impressed when I watched the game back with our style of play. First game of the season can be tense and to play in the manner that we did was very pleasing, and I hope that the supporters got a glimpse of what it is we are looking to be, putting on a show this year!” 

“We said to the boys in the buildup to last weekend’s Cup-tie at Farnham Town, they have a tremendous record and had to be respected,” the Brickies boss went on.

“We looked into their team and individuals, and they are all very good footballers, I did not know many of them I think I knew one player from previous, so we had to do our research and a very difficult fixture on paper it was.

“So, to go away to team to a team on such a fantastic run was going to be a tough one and it was. 2-2 till the dying moments and although we were good value for the win, you don’t always get that do you, we got over the line and I thought we were very, very good. Very impressed with how the boys have gelled and our style was evident again, it was not quite the same at Broadbridge. Bags (skipper Bagasan Graham) and Ryan Kingsford were not available and hopefully will play a part over the holiday weekend.” 

Kingsford joined Sittingbourne from Maidstone in the summer but because, the striker had played in America, he had to wait to pull on a Sittingbourne shirt. Maxwell told us, “Ryan has missed our first two games because his international clearance had not come through, it has now!” 

“He has had to be patient the clearance can be at times really frustrating, but he has handled it so well, trained very hard and done the extras that means he does not fall behind. He’s raring to go and could not wait for training last week and this weekend’s games, to have him involved is better for us; it is great for all of us and with these two games this weekend, we are going to need him.” 

“Our fixtures are magical this week with two Kent derbies this weekend and another big one in the Cup on Saturday. We have a big period ahead of us, but we are all looking forward to it, I cannot wait, and the boys are the same.

“We have an incredibly competitive squad, and we are going to need them, it is a real crunch time already despite the fact nothing is won already.”