After bouncing back from their FA Trophy exit to Aldershot Town last weekend with a 3-0 midweek win at Margate, Sittingbourne this weekend travel again – this time to the side that beat them in the Play Offs last season and boss Ryan Maxwell is keen to win again this weekend.
But as boss Ryan Maxwell told KSN, it’s a different Three Bridges that the Brickies face on Saturday and what happened twelve months ago has no bearing on this weekend.
“Every game we play now is a Cup Final,” the Brickies boss told us. “Last season was last season and every game we play now; we must have Cup Final mentality.”
“What happened last year will have no effect on this game this weekend – it’s a game that we will approach with full focus on three points and that is all that we are doing.”
“One game at a time mentality – this is the next one, and then we have a selection of games ahead of us and each one in turn will be THE most important game of our season!”
“Margate is done now, onto Three Bridges and last season has nothing to do with Saturday. We are in a different season and different place, and we have to approach it like that!”
“I was absolutely delighted with the “bounce-back” at Margate on Tuesday and the response to Saturday’s disappointment and the result, particularly as we didn’t deserve the 0-3 defeat as the boys were fantastic on Saturday and deserved so much more!”
“Yes, Aldershot shaved it but certainly the scoreline was really flattering, but we had to brush it off straight away, get back on the horse and that was a concern to some people!”
“But the boy’s have character and on Tuesday they showed real, real character and did not let the disappointment affect their performance whatsoever and they were at it from the first whistle to the last and that says so much about this group!”
“We had to go to Margate and win – we had no choice as most people would go there and be happy with a point; before Tuesday they had only lost one League game at home all season.”
“We expected a tough game and got a tough game. They were competitive enough and it was a tough game – we had by far the better chances with their keeper making three great saves and we ran out 3-0 winners with two late goals in the game.”
“We were worthy winners and good value – it was what we needed after Saturday, a tough test where we had to rise up, dust ourselves off and go again, and ultimately if we are going to win the League and get promoted, you have to go to places like Hartsdown Park and get results in tough times.”
“The FA Trophy was a beautiful thing, it was a great run, it was historical etc., and has stuck us on the map but ultimately, it’s not what we are here for – we can realign ourselves now and focus on what it was that we all originally signed up for, and that is to get promoted!”
Maxwell confirmed that Henry Lukombo who missed Tuesday’s game and skipper Bagasan Graham who hobbled off should both be in the squad for the weekend, where the Sittingbourne boss is hoping for another big turnout of travelling fans, who he had special praise for after the midweek win.
Maxwell said, “Off the back of the Trophy game, the support the Brickies gave us on Tuesday was incredible. I know that they spent their had earned money in the Trophy run and knowing that money is tight for many people, to go to Margate after Saturday says all about the support that we have as that is real support!”
“The boys needed it after Aldershot, and I think the fans felt that and knew that they would be needed at Margate. That shows real supporters that have a real connection with the team, and know that they may have been a little despondent after Saturday, they still found a way to be at Margate, finding the money to do so, and that’s why we all made a point of going and speaking to every single one of them afterwards the way we did.”
“Midweek games are tricky to get to at the best of times but a big, big game like that – after Saturday’s performance and result – I felt that the supporters knew that and had a part to play!”