Kentish Football 
Hopefully now people will take us a bit more seriously, says Sittingbourne boss Gary Abbott
Thursday 07th April 2011
SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott has done an excellent job without a playing budget and taking the pressure of his youngsters - but victory over Walton & Hersham at Bourne Park on Saturday will reignite Abbott’s original play-off aspirations, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Brickies have won five of their last eight league games and are only five points adrift of fifth-placed Burgess Hill Town - in ninth place in the Ryman League Division One South - with only four games left to play, although three of them are at home.
Looking ahead to the visit of sixth-placed Walton & Hersham, Abbott said: “We said in the changing room that there’s no pressure on us and no one expects us to get anywhere near the play-off’s and haven’t done or a while.
“Now on Saturday we’re at home again and we’ve got Walton & Hersham and let me tell you, they know that they’re going to be in a game as we went down there about a month ago and we remember what they tried to do to us at the start of the game.
“They were having their photos done and trying to rub our noses in it really and we came away winning 1-0.
“They know now that when they come here on Saturday they won’t do that again, as they know they’re in for a hard game and obviously the confidence is up now and we want another win and why not!”
Abbott remains convinced that it will be Bognor Regis Town’s title, but with the men from the Sussex coast still to visit Bourne Park on 23 April, the Sittingbourne boss said, “I've fancied Bognor since day one - I think they're a good, decent side and they won again on Tuesday night to go back top and that result could have gone a long way to them winning the title I think!
“We're going to try and win all our games that we've got left and if that means that we rock Bognor and help out Met Police then so be it.
"Richard (Brady) and I have said since January lets get the youngsters in and see if they're good enough for this league and I think we can honestly say that they are.
“But if you're going to win anything you do need experienced players in there. Look at our ages - Matt Reed’s the old man and he's only 24; and then comes Nick Reeves who's only 22 - apart from that they're all under 20, but that's the way its been for the past month.
“Hopefully now people will take us a bit more seriously as when the money went in January there were a few people who said that Sittingbourne have gone now and we can’t wait to play them.
“Now though they don't want to play us regardless of how young we are we'll give anyone a good game and what a story it will be of we could get in the play-off’s.
“But being realistic we've got to win all four and other people drop points, but you never know - funnier things have happened!"
Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk
Sittingbourne v Walton & Hersham
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 9th April 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink Industrial Estate, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd