Ryan Maxwell is a frustrated manager with a team of frustrated footballers as Sittingbourne look to restart their season at home to East Grinstead Town on Saturday. 

The weather has meant that since their winning run was stopped by Chichester City two weeks ago, the Brickies haven’t kicked a ball in League action leaving the Manager and his players itching to get back playing. 

“We really are chomping at the bit for this weekend, and I just hope that the weather has stayed away from Sittingbourne,” Maxwell told KSN this week.

“The boys really cannot wait, they have trained really well but nothing replaces or replicates a game so we can put right the last home performance against Chichester two weeks ago! All I can say is that we have done all we can in the interim to keep the boys ready and keep morale focused and looking forward to the weekend.” 

“The only big positive we can take from not playing is that we are exactly in the same position as we were. We have not been leap frogged and that is something that we have brought up with the boys previously about making sure that we get a gap between ourselves and the teams below to cement an early play-off spot.

“We still have a bit to do, but certainly the seven wins in a row that we had after New Year have put us in a position which I have reminded them of again this week, had we not done that we may have been caught early; the only negative would be that the two teams ahead of us have both played and won so we have a bit more to do there.” 

“But we can’t have it both ways as they say, but it is a positive that we haven’t been caught, certainly!” 

“You could also say that the boys have had a bit of a needed rest as lots have played lots of games whilst those who have not played recently are even more chomping to play again. Everyone has rested and the positive thing is that the injured have had more time to recover without missing games. Everyone is at the ready, are fresh and eager to go!” 

East Grinstead will travel to the Roman Stadium, Woodstock two places and four points out of the relegation zone at the tables foot, and like the Brickies the recent weather have starved the Wasps of League action. 

Maxwell though is only too well aware that whilst his side are on the lookout for the points at the top of the table, their visitors are in just as much need at the other end.

“Everyone is playing for different things and there’s no easy games it is as simple as that,” he admitted.

“There are no easy games, every game is a tough encounter. I have seen that they have signed a couple of players recently, so they will be tough opposition and we will have to make sure that we are absolutely spot on, on the day to get three points.” 

“They gave us a tough game down there, we had a number of chances that day to be honest to put the game to bed. They took the lead and gave us an obstacle to overcome but the boys did, and we won 2-1!

“They have signed a couple of players and whilst we will make mention of the previous game, we will not fully plan our attack against what we played against that night, as the new players will probably start for them, different couple of threats that we are aware of and need to be!” 

Injury wise and Maxwell is waiting on the fitness of striker Chris Harris but reports an otherwise clean bill of health.