Tony Rickson Previews Sittingbourne v Shoreham

Less than 48 hours after their first away win since the start of December, Sittingbourne have a chance to complete back-to-back victories when Shoreham visit Woodstock on Saturday.

Newly-promoted to the Bostik League this season, Shoreham have struggled desperately and are rooted at the foot of the South Division having won just three times in 36 matches this season.

They were well beaten 4-0 by Sittingbourne on their own pitch back in October but that was when the Brickies were in a table-topping  spell of form and Shoreham also did themselves no favours by being reduced to 10 men in the first half as a result of a red card for a bad tackle.

But by having to play on Thursday night, Sittingbourne will have had too little time to recover from a testing game at South Park.

Although Sittingbourne were delighted to have won, several players were struggling by the end of the match with Tom Loynes, David Smith and new signing Germaine Dua all limping out of the second half action.

It was such an important win to get under their belts for Sittingbourne, who went into the match with a great attitude despite a run of seven defeats leading up to it.

Interim manager Aslan Odev will have been delighted with his players’

effort, and their ability to follow his often-shouted instruction “Manage the Game” after going two up through top scorer Kane Rowland and impressive newcomer Lewis Chambers.

So big has the change-around in personnel been this season (Bola Dawodu is the latest to leave), that only two stalwarts of Thursday night’s team – Rowland and captain Chris Webber – were in the side that started the season. Though David Smith, who was a goalscoring sub on the opening day, as well as Loynes, goalkeeper Harry Brooks and Lex Allan were all soon involved.

If Sittingbourne beat Shoreham on Saturday that will complete only their second double of this season, having previously beaten Herne Bay both home and away.

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