Sittingbourne head into Christmas top of the Isthmian South East division after a battling win at Eastbourne Town last weekend.
With the Brickies taking advantage of Ramsgate’s game at Merstham falling foul to the weather, they go into Boxing Day top of the table ahead of arguably their biggest game of the season, the Swale derby with Ernie Batten’s Sheppey United.
With boss Ryan Maxwell unavailable, KSN spoke to coach Billy McMahon ahead of the derby and he told us, “I for one am really looking forward to it. We have had some really good encounters with Sheppey we came to the Club, some real humdingers, really looking forward to the game!
Reflecting in hitting the summit, McMahon was extremely resolute as he reflected on the result of the events in Sussex. “Top of the table at Christmas is nice BUT it’s only the start as there is still a long way to go,” he admitted.
“We will not get too excited being top on December 25. Of course, it is nice to be top of any table but at the end of the day it’s what matters that last weekend in April and that is when we want to head the table, it’s another box ticked and we go again, starting Boxing Day.”
“Our last two games have been very different but have shown that this year we are a lot more resolute than previously; we know how to grind out a win now, whereas last season we were perhaps a little bit naive and a little bit immature and inexperience cost us a little bit in certain games but this year, for me we are a lot more experienced and we look solid!”
“Our last game at Eastbourne was something else ruined again by the wind. I think that for the last month or so the wind at games has been ridiculous – we thought it would be one of those days when we get a goal and see it out. But they scored and we had to battle back to get the win to keep the pressure on at the top. It was a workmanlike performance and we got the points.”
“The goal we conceded was a lack of concentration and we got punished but sometimes it could be “good” to concede one as you really do realise that we need to be a bit sharper and street wise to go back on the run of not conceding!”
“On the last weekend before Christmas and on a rotten day, out support was incredible again at Eastbourne. I have played for some good non-League teams with great supporters, but the Brickies are up there with the very best!
“You travel everywhere in whatever the conditions, I cannot thank every single one of them enough and the boys do feed of it and I do think there have been occasions where we have got over the line on the pitch because of them – they really are our twelfth man.”