Sittingbourne boss Ryan Maxwell has called on his side to pick up the tempo as we move towards the Festive football fixtures to keep pace with the Isthmian South East leaders. 

After having their last three games rained off, the Brickies face Merstham at the Roman Stadium, Woodstock this weekend with the manager – and his team – itching to restart their season. 

“It has been a frustrating few weeks,” Maxwell admitted. “Of course, we are used to it this time of year, but it does not make it any less frustrating. The boys were looking forward to the game on Tuesday at East Grinstead but that was rained off too, so we have got everything crossed that you are reading this on its original date.” 

“When you look that we had so many blank midweeks at the start of the season and now at supposedly the worst period for weather we are expected to play twice a week does not quite make sense, but we should not over analyse or point fingers as it’s above my pay grade!”

“It really does not make sense though that we have such a crowded fixture list this time of the season at a time when games will get called off by the weather; who am I to question things though?” 

On the pitch, Maxwell was delighted with keeper Bobby Mason’s second Isthmian League award this season for fewest goals conceded in the month – a statistic that has gone towards the Brickies keeper ranking in the top five in the whole country for fewest goals conceded.

“Would like to congratulate Bobby for winning the Golden Gloves award again in November” Maxwell said. “I am told that we currently have the fifth best defence in Non-League football in the country!”

“That’s great achievement in itself – it is fantastic, and I am delighted for Bobby. I was delighted to get him in during the summer and thankfully he has proved to be the player that we hoped and more – long may that continue both for him and the team as the ball has to get to him first and by stopping that at source, so it’s a team accolade but certainly Bobby has had some great performances and his award!” 

With the weekend in mind, the Brickies boss said, “The only positive of not playing is that it has given our injured players time to get fit now as we go into the Christmas period. We should almost be at completely full strength going into the weekend and raring to go.” 

“We go into Saturday facing a different Merstham to that we played back in mid-September. They have changed their manager and have a different squad – I have seen one of their recent games; they have a different style, there are some players still there from that day.”

“We are ready – we are aware of their style, and we look forward to the game hoping for three points to add to the three we won at their ground.”