Sittingbourne ended Herne Bay’s unbeaten start to the year at the weekend by winning 3-0 at Winches Field, but manager Ryan Maxwell wants more from his side starting tonight.

Brickies boss Ryan Maxwell has challenged his side to produce their brilliant second half showing across the full ninety minutes of a game as he told us when we spoke to him after Saturday’s game. 

“I am not that happy if I am honest as scorelines can be misleading – I thought we were good value for 3-0, but I wasn’t over the moon with some parts of our play!” he explained.

“We played in patches and beat a good side who are in good form and are fifth in the League, so they must be a good side.”

“For them not to have lost by a margin of that here in the League as well with a home record like that have, to beat them 3-0 here I suppose I have to be happy with the result, but there was still more that we could have got out of our performance and I suppose I’m bitter sweet as although I know on paper this result really does look sweet, I know that this team is still capable of more than we got Saturday!” 

“We tweaked things at the break as I felt that it was needed, and we had the personnel as we’ve a strong squad now.”

“Bringing Harry Hope on gave us an extra little bit of composure and we were much, much better second half. They had a little spell when they were two down, but we rode that out and after that it was pretty much plain sailing.” 

“I think we have forgotten how well we have played before without getting the fruits of our labour. For me, the way we played at Sheppey in the first half was particularly outstanding when we ripped them to pieces and then Saturday in patches is what I mean we played some great stuff… I will not get carried away, I will analyse things as I have said before – this team is capable of these performances but for ninety minutes and until I get that, I will keep pushing them until I get it.”

Mitch May continues his remarkable scoring rate with the Brickies’ second and the manager said, “his journey has been quite unique – he started at step seven and has developed last season and is now becoming a “man” and doing the fundamental stuff that strikers do without getting goals – the pinning, the awareness, bring people into play – all that side of his game has got so much better, and he’s still only 20/21 and he’s a real talent!”

“His attitude is the reason that he’s developing at the rate he is – he’s a tremendous person who is constantly asking us questions and when you give him the information, he processes it and makes it happen pretty quickly.”

“He’s in great form and I have said to the boys that it is no coincidence that he’s one of the, if not the hardest worker that we have physically and mentally!” 

The manager was also pleased with his new signing Danny Parish and his involvement in the Brickies’ third goal which was a magnificent free kick from Stefan Ilic.

“Danny is a super player and a lovely addition to our squad and I’m really looking forward to working with him; we trained on Thursday night and I think we all saw what we had signed – someone who can score goals and all sorts of types of goals at this level with the experience that we might need as well come the crucial times.”

“He has a good attitude – we have seen that right away as he was fouled when he came on and then the resulting free-kick was probably as good a free-kick as you will see in the League this season, right in the top corner – the keeper knew where it was going, but he just could not stop it.”

“It was inch perfect, and Stefan has such ability – he is a talent, and we want to get the best out of him, because if we do, we have a serious player!” 

Sittingbourne travel top East Grinstead Town on Tuesday night before two home games against Burgess Hill Town and Sevenoaks Town next week.