Maxwell: We wouldn’t know how to give up

Ryan Maxwell says there’s no chance of Sittingbourne giving up on the Isthmian South East title. The Brickies trail leaders Ramsgate by seven points with three games left but boss Maxwell knows his side will keep going. They proved that at East Grinstead on Saturday, where goals from Mitchell May, Donvieve Jones, Ryan Kingsford, Liam Smith and Antonio Morgan earned a 5-0 victory.

Ramsgate will be champions if they win at Hythe on Good Friday, regardless of the Brickies’ result at home to third-placed Burgess Hill (both 1pm kick-offs). But Maxwell’s men haven’t put 98 points on the board and reached the FA Trophy quarter-finals this season by rolling over. “No chance,” he said.



“We wouldn’t know how to give up. I wouldn’t allow it and we’ve instilled that in the players. “You don’t beat eight teams in the FA Trophy by giving up.

“We’ve been behind and come back in one of those games as well, so we’ve got that never-say-die fight all the way to the end. “It’s still mathematically possible, albeit we know the chances are very slim, but we just approach one game at a time at this club. “Again, it’s something we’ve learned from the Trophy, we look at the next game and that’s the one we fully focus on, hence why the attitude was spot on at East Grinstead and the result shows that.

“We had five different scorers, so it shows everyone was at it, and that’s what we need. “Everyone’s got to be at it, fully hands to the pump, fully focused on the goal. The goal will not change and that’s promotion.

” Midfielder Jean-Baptiste Fischer made his first start since January last year after recovering from a serious knee injury. He set up May’s opener in the dominant win at East Grinstead and is like a new signing for the Brickies. “JB was brilliant,” said Maxwell.

“He made the first goal with a bit of class. He’s a super footballer, a brilliant technician, he’s intelligent and can do a bit of everything. “He’s absolutely delighted to have contributed to a goal, the boys gave him a round of applause after the game to say well done for his first start in such a long time, and what a start it was.

“He’s such a quality player, he’s got that class, composure and gives us options in multiple positions.” Troy Howard picked up a second yellow card in the closing stages after a difficult week. The winger played, despite losing a close friend.

“Maybe I could have given him the weekend off but I decided to involve him and it might be a little learning curve for myself,” said Maxwell. “Ultimately he wanted to be involved and he was very unfortunate with the sending-off. “It was two soft yellows, kicking the ball away and a handball where he’s been pushed in the back and his hands have come up.

“It’s a very unfortunate situation but Troy Howard is a fantastic player, an even better lad, he’s an absolute joy to have around, an absolute diamond of a fella, who’s having an unbelievable season. “He’s the talk of the town, lots of people are asking me about Troy Howard and I have nothing but great things to say about him.” Maxwell could be getting two for the price of one when he does his homework on Burgess Hill.

The Sussex club look set to finish third and are potential play-off final opponents for the Brickies. There’s a long way to go before that scenario becomes reality, however. “I don’t look that far ahead,” said Maxwell.

“I’ll plan for this game and everything will be kept in a file, just in case, but other than that it’s just the next game for me and the boys. “They’re in the play-offs, so you have to keep what you can knowledge-wise, but ultimately it will always be about us and playing to our strengths.” Sittingbourne visit Swale rivals Sheppey on Easter Monday (3pm).

Brickies fans are set to travel to the Island in numbers. “I know it’s a very big game for those involved at both clubs, being a derby,” said Maxwell. “I expect it to be a good crowd and a buoyant atmosphere.

“From what I’m told, it’s a game people pencil in at both clubs when the fixtures come out. “We don’t know what we’re playing for at the moment. “We’ll be playing to win the game, of course, but we’ll have to see how important that game is after Friday.

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