I'm taking Margate cup tie seriously, says Abbott

Wednesday 16th December 2009

AFTER a weekend when everything went right for Sittingbourne, manager Gary Abbott is looking to produce a shock when they hopefully welcome Ryman Premier side Margate to Bourne Park tonight for their re arranged Championship Manager Ryman League Cup tie, writes Mike Green.

The Brickies were buoyed by Saturdays gate of 348 for their open house day when all fans were admitted free of charge, and by the come from behind win against fancied Fleet Town which lifted Abbott's side to the edge of the Play Off chasing pack.

Indeed the gate at the weekend was exactly double their previous highest league gate of the season, and that came against Ashford Town at the start of the season.

All in all a very happy Brickies boss spoke to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game, and he already had one eye on tonight’s cup tie, which has passed a four o’clock pitch inspection.

Abbott said: "I'm disappointed that the game wasn't played last week, but in a way it helped us too as we picked up a few injuries on the Saturday which cleared up in time for them to play against Fleet. I'm looking forward to it - its going to be a good test for us, and there's no reason that we cant beat them."

Twelve months ago, Abbott may have brought in some squad players for the game - but not this time.

He said: "Last season all I was worried about was the Play off so these Cup games didn't really bother me. This year though I think that if you look at the teams in it - it is a good Cup to win so why not try and win something for Sittingbourne - if it can’t be the league why can’t it be the Cup and I'm sure the supporters would love that and after all there's no reason why we cant beat Margate.

“ I don't know who we get in the next round but lets get Margate out of the way first... The team will be very close to our strongest.

“I know that Tom (Bradbrook) isn't fit yet and needs to get another 60/70 minute sunder his belt, so the team will probably be the same starting line up as today - I might tinker I might not!"

For the record because of the amount of postponements last week, the draw for the next round was itself postponed and will now be made on Thursday morning (December 16th).

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

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

Sittingbourne v Margate

Championship Manager Cup Third Round

Wednesday 16th December 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB