Sittingbourne are back on the road this weekend as they head to Chichester City’s temporary home at Burgess Hill with manager Ryan Maxwell looking to consolidate their second place in the table and their seven League game unbeaten run. 

But for boss Maxwell, he is looking for his side to this weekend go a stage further than their 1-1 draw at Burgess Hill last weekend.

“If I’m honest, I was very disappointed,” the Brickies boss admitted. “It was a good pitch and after we scored the goal, which was a great goal, I did think we would go on and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.”

“But that did not happen and if anything, the goal was our best moment of the day, and I am disappointed that we did not use it as a springboard to push on in the game.”

“Also, we took our foot off the pedal and allowed Burgess Hill to score what I thought was a very soft goal in my opinion.”

“I was not happy as it was an opportunity to go on and win the game which was well within our capabilities, and we have come away with a point rather than three!” 

“I felt that we’d thrown away two points rather than gaining one!” 

“We have to give credit to Burgess Hill – they defended well and we didn’t have an awful lot in terms of chances and at the end of the day, both defences will say that they’ve had a good day at the office, but I just feel that we’re in a good frame of form at the moment and the pitch being so lush would have suited us and allowed us to move the ball better which we didn’t.”

“It probably wasn’t the easiest game on the eye for the neutral. From my point of view, from going one nil up and having three points in our hands, we did not need to entertain after the first goal – we could have come away with a clean sheet and ultimately three points, but we did not do it, and that disappointed me.” 

“We go again at the weekend after training on Tuesday and Thursday night in preparation for what is certain to be our toughest test as far as Chichester are a very good side and we will have to be a lot better than we were last Saturday to get anything from the game.”

“They’ve been two very important training sessions for us this week in preparation for a game that as I’ve said is going to be really, really tough and the boys will be keen to put things rights after a few things were said after the game at Burgess Hill and I hope that they understand that a point at Burgess Hill on paper may look alright, but it’s not what I’m here for!” 

“Our league is far better and tougher than the North. I have played many, many, many games in the other division – this is a much stronger League and to have three sides in the First-Round proper of the FA Cup just highlights that fact, and ultimately shows just how tough it is to compete in this League.” 

“Good luck to those three teams involved – I know that we’re competing against each other but ultimately is non-League and it’s a very special competition and to make it to the First Round is tremendous, so good luck to them all I say…”