Last weekend, Sittingbourne reached the third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for the first time in a decade. This weekend the focus for Ryan Maxwell and the Brickies is to reach the final Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy for just the second time this century!
Standing in the way of Maxwell and his side are Kingstonian, a side that dominated the competition at the turn of the century but have recently fallen upon tough times with them being relegated from the Isthmian Premier last season to the South-Central division.
But Sittingbourne’s wily Irish boss knows that his side still face another stern test at Woodstock on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the game, Maxwell said, “Kingstonian have a real pedigree and history in this Competition and when I first started playing non-league football, they were very much a “big” club and widely known and those mental pictures have stayed with me.
“They have the history, so I have massive respect for the Club we face Saturday, yes, they have had some challenging times of late, but hopefully they are stabilising, or hopefully they are.”
Looking back seven days and that win at Lordswood, Maxwell said, “We enjoyed a great result in the “other” FA competition last weekend, obviously being on the BBC and the expectation that came with that, I thought our performance was professional without being outstanding but it was all about getting the job done.
“We did get it done and still maintained our clean sheet which was obviously vital, so I was delighted with that and going into the next round next week, I did say that home or away I really wasn’t too fussed in who we got or indeed where!”
“The draw has given us Plymouth Parkway at Woodstock and I do not know too much about them so I cannot comment too much. What we do know is that they are a level above us, but we are at home which is great for the Club.
“I am delighted that our supporters who were again brilliant at Lordswood, will be able to cheer us on here next weekend. Trust me when I say that we will do all due diligence but not until after Saturday’s Trophy game!”
The Brickies bowed out of the League Cup on Tuesday losing 4-1 to Erith Town, but Maxwell was pleased with what he had seen from a very youthful looking side.
“Our coach Billy McMahon took charge of an incredibly young side on Tuesday, and I have to say that for 45 minutes our youngsters really held their own against an established side, yes, I know that Erith didn’t have their full first team out either, but we included just two players who had played at Lordswood.
“Our youngsters did the Club proud, and it was only in the second half when the home side put some more of their first team on, that they got away from us.”