A couple of wins then we should be ok, says Sittingbourne boss Joe Dowley

SITTINGBOURNE manager Joe Dowley says striker Bradley Spice could return to the starting line-up for Saturday’s home game against Merstham.




The 29-year-old, who scored from a free-kick in their last home game against Eastbourne Town two weeks’ ago, has been working on his fitness in recent weeks and Dowley is hopeful that the chairman’s son will be able to play a key role in the club’s final six league games.

The Bourne Park outfit are only nine points clear of basement side Whyteleafe, who surprised many by beating Folkestone Invicta last weekend, and Sittingbourne must win on Saturday to ease the pressure and maintain their Ryman League Division One Status for another year.

“Six games to go, well we don’t need to worry about Whyteleafe if we pick up points ourselves, we don’t have to worry about what they’re doing,” said Dowley.

“Saturday is a massive game but we have got a tough run-in, which everyone is aware off. 

“We’re playing a lot of the teams who are right up there.  It will be tough but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t pick up enough points to worry about Whyteleafe or Burgess Hill.

“We’re nine points ahead, even if we put six points on that, it puts them under pressure, which means Whyteleafe have to win five of their last six games.  It’s doo-able but hopefully it won’t be.   It will be impossible for them.

“If we look to get six or pick up nine points, we should be fine. A couple of wins then we should be ok.”

This has been Sittingbourne’s worst season for many years as they go into their last six league games in the bottom three.

Thankfully, due to the demise of Croydon Athletic, only one side will face relegation at the end of April.

They go into Saturday’s home game against Merstham – who are managed by former Bromley boss Hayden Bird – on a poor run of ten games without a win.

Dowley said: “Since the Christmas period it’s been very disappointing.  The teams we were playing were down there over that period.  We should have picked up a lot more points than we did!

“Things haven’t gone for us and we have to worry about finishing the season strongly and get away from any relegation battle.

“It’s a big game.  We’re at home as well so hopefully that will be an advantage.   We’ll see.  We’ve brought in a few new players over the last couple of weeks’.  All of them have done quite well, so hopefully they’ll help us along.”

Spice, who is Dowley’s assistant manager, is expected to be thrown in against the Surrey side.

“He’s slowly getting fitter,” revealed Dowley.   “He may could well start on Saturday. He’s getting to that point, he’s looking to start. 

“It gives us another option.  He’s a good player to have if we get him half fit.

“I’ve told him to get fit so he can start a game.  That would be a bonus, rather than setting him targets for goals.

“If he plays three of the last six games, something like that, he’s going to score goals anyway.  He’s a natural goalscorer.  If he’s starting games and involved a lot more, no doubt he’ll score goals.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Sittingbourne  v  Merstham
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 31^st March 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Bourne Park, Central Park Stadium, Eurolink Industrial Estate, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB