Sittingbourne welcome Deal Town to the Staxson Stadium, Woodstock on Saturday, on a run of nine wins and two draws from their last eleven games – a run that has won boss Ryan Maxwell the manager of the month award from the Isthmian League. 

“We are in good form at the moment,” Maxwell told KSN this week after seeing his side win 3-0 at Phoenix Sports in midweek.

“Very pleased with Tuesday’s result away from home against a team who will not be bottom of this League for long, I can promise you that with their new signings that they have made and Darren (Anslow, the Phoenix boss) will steer them away from the bottom, so we are all really pleased with the result.” 

“And it’s another clean sheet to follow up last Saturday’s win over Three Bridges by the same score-line – we have scored six in two games with two clean-sheets and we are really happy and I think that the performances have both been very mature and controlled – quite comfortable really – so we are in a good place right now.” 

On his award, the Brickies boss admitted, “To receive the Manager of the Month is nice but I know that it is an individual award but although it’s one person who is named as the winner, I do mean that it is a collective effort, it really is!”

“I have a brilliant staff and very good players and great people around me and it is a team award. I am delighted with the way the last month has gone – we have had a very good unbeaten month, with some great performances and results with the Dover win in the Trophy amongst it as well – the boys are in a great place and long may it continue.” 

“Saturday’s game will be tough. Deal caught us cold in the League game at their place and we were two nil behind early on but came back to win 3-2, it was a tremendous comeback on a Tuesday night away from home.”

“So, I am expecting another tough game – we know how they play and if we are not up for it, they can expose anybody. You must be at it when you play against Deal and we will be – we are a very competitive side and know we are in for a tough game.” 

“This is a very tough League and for them to come into it from the League below and hold their own, Deal are doing well. Momentum is a big thing and when you have been promoted and are able to keep the same team, adding one or two as you do, having the cohesion and the togetherness, they have done well so far…”