2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Craig Tucker)
Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell has hailed his players’ achievement in going 30 matches unbeaten. The Brickies brought up the milestone with a 2-1 victory at Steyning in Isthmian South East on Saturday. And they’re out to continue their terrific form when they host promotion rivals Margate at Woodstock tonight (7.
45pm). Sittingbourne last tasted defeat against Plymouth Parkway in an FA Cup qualifier in September. Their unbeaten run includes six higher-division scalps in the FA Trophy, most notably National League Southend.
“We’ve all been around the block enough to know that 30 games unbeaten is a tremendous number,” said Maxwell. “It would be tremendous as league games but amongst those, there’s three Step 3 clubs, two Step 2 clubs and a Step 1 club, so it’s even more remarkable. “I can’t give the boys enough credit for sticking at it, showing discipline, focus, desire, hunger, all the ingredients you need to go on a 30-game unbeaten run.
“You’re everyone’s scalp, everyone’s trying harder to be the one to stop you, so everyone’s raising their game and we’ve got to raise ours even more. “I cannot give the boys enough credit or a harder pat on their back than what I’ve already done but they’re doing tremendously well. “To me, it’s just numbers.
What’s important to me is that consistency in performance, and we’ve been very consistent at both ends of the pitch. “I try to install in the players’ mindset that the next game is the most important one, no matter what competition it may be in, so scratch what’s gone before and start again every week.” Second-placed Sittingbourne boast a 100% home league record, winning all 14 matches at Woodstock.
They have a chance to move a point behind leaders Ramsgate but Margate, in fourth, will provide a stern test. “They’re a big club but no bigger than Sittingbourne,” said Maxwell. “They were a league above last year, they’re well-funded, well-supported, they’ve got the 3G pitch, so every tool you’d expect a team at the top end of the league to have.
“It’s a tough game, it’s a Kent derby but we’re at Woodstock and we’re expected to put on a performance, which we usually do.” Striker Ade Azeez marked his debut with a goal as Sittingbourne won at bottom side Steyning at the weekend. He’s joined on a month’s loan from Isthmian Premier Billericay as he rebuilds match fitness following a long injury lay-off.
Crucially, the former Dartford man is eligible for Sittingbourne’s FA Trophy quarter-final at home to Aldershot on March 1. “Ade’s a good player, with a good pedigree,” said Maxwell. “He’s been around a long time but he’s only 30/31.
“After speaking to Ade, he had a number of clubs that were willing to take him from his own league, so it was quite humbling for him to say I’d rather come to you because he wanted to be part of what we’re doing. “I knew him from managing against him, I’ve always liked his style, and I thought it could fit in here. “Everything aligned and he was very keen to play for us.
“He’s come in, trained once, his attitude was spot on, he’s a great character, and the way he’s integrated, it’s like he’s been here for weeks. “His performance on Saturday didn’t surprise me at all. “The boys know we’ve got a very good player.
“We’ll have to manage him a little bit in terms of how he feels but certainly when he’s fit he’s a really good player. “The good thing is he can play in the Trophy, too. “It was another stipulation in terms of our recruitment, if we could get someone in who’s not Trophy-tied.
“He’s got experience, he’s played in big games, so not being Trophy-tied was key when trying to get him over the line. “He was really excited about the fact he has a massive game among our league games. “They’re all massive but it’s a huge, huge game in the Trophy and one he’s delighted to be involved in.
” Sittingbourne, meanwhile, are looking at streaming their FA Trophy quarter-final against National League Aldershot. Capacity at Woodstock is limited to 1,300, which is unlikely to satisfy demand for the biggest game in the club’s history. Aldershot are entitled to 15% under FA rules, which is still only 195 tickets.
Kick-off has been brought forward to 12.30pm after discussions between the two clubs. “We’re looking to stream the game for people who can’t enter the ground, which is the only problem for a game of this size,” said Maxwell.
“We’d love to have 3,000 there and be able to allocate more tickets to Aldershot but we are restricted to what is safe. “For people who can’t go, we wanted to do something positive and make sure they don’t miss out on the game itself. “So that’s what’s being done, that’s being organised and I’m sure we’ll announce that soon.
” Limited tickets aside, Maxwell is delighted to be at home as Sittingbourne bid to reach the semi-finals. They’re facing a second ex-Football League club after winning at Southend in round five. “Whoever you get at this stage is going to be a tough game, and the stage before that,” said Maxwell.
“We’ve been to Southend and managed to win a game of football. “It doesn’t mean it was easy because, believe me, it wasn’t. “So much went into that result and we’re now at home, which was all I wanted.
“I didn’t care who we got, but we’ve drawn another ex-Football League club, a huge club in non-league, a full-time club. “Again we’re underdogs, we have to be, there’s three divisions between us and we’re against full-time professionals again. “But this will be the seventh time we’ve been underdogs, so it’s not something we fear.
“It’s something we respect and we have to be at our absolute best.” Maxwell, meanwhile, has wished Harley Earle well after releasing the young goalkeeper. The Brickies have signed Roco Rees, who made his debut at Southend, on a longer-term arrangement.
Maxwell set up a move to Herne Bay and Earle kept a clean sheet on his debut in a goalless draw with Broadbridge Heath. “I wanted to look after Harley because I’ve got a lot of time for him and he’s a very talented keeper,” said Maxwell. “I love Harley to bits and he knows that, and his family, so I wanted to make sure he had a good club.
“I’ll always keep an eye on him. I’ve no doubt he’ll do great for Herne Bay.” Rees left Worthing at the end of last season, followed by a spell in Finland.
With Earle recovering from injury, he was offered the chance to play at Southend and has now committed to the club. Maxwell said: “He’s got Step 2 games under his belt, so we know he’s got the pedigree and we know he’s a talented keeper. “He’s 23, so he’s a little bit more experienced than Harley.
“He was brilliant against Southend, he’s contributed very well to that clean sheet, albeit it was his first competitive game for nine months, which I didn’t know at the time. He’s a really good addition.”.
