LET BATTLE COMMENCE!

Monday 01st March 2010

SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott says he is confident to extend his club’s remarkable record over local rivals Chatham Town on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Brickies have won their last 12 league games over their nearest rivals - an unbeaten run that stretches back to Boxing Day 2003 - and having thumped Chatham 4-0 at Bourne Park over the Christmas period, Abbott goes to Maidstone Road in a confident manner.

“I know it’s going to be a tough game,” Abbott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “A local derby, they’re going to want to beat us and avenge the score that we beat them on Boxing Day.

“It’s going to be a tough game but I’m just quietly confident that we can go down there and get three points. A 1-0 will do me but there’s no reason why we can’t go and score two or three.

Rochester based Abbott added spice to the derby game by saying, “I’ve just read in the local paper that O’Brien has said I’ve disrespected his side, just because I said that on Friday that we can go down there and win 4-0 again.

“That’s not me disrespecting his side, that’s me being confident in my side and my players. I don’t disrespect any team! He doesn’t know me to say that! It might come across like that but it’s not like that at all!

“All I said was I think we can go down there and get the same score. I’m confident in my side to go there and we’re scoring goals and not letting goals in.”

Having defeated then league leaders Folkestone Invicta 2-0 in their last game, Abbott wants to take that performance into the Chatham clash.

“We had a great win against Folkestone and deserved it,” said Abbott. “It could have been a couple more goals in it.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence at the moment. The team’s playing well with a lot of confidence, we’re scoring goals and we’re also keeping it tight at the back. There’s no reason why I can’t say we can beat Chatham again.”

Abbott has added Sam Payne, a seventeen-year-old, defensive midfielder to his squad, having signed him from Ryman Premier League strugglers Margate.

“He wasn’t really getting into the Margate first team, he was getting on the bench, but he’s com along to us and get involved on the bench and we’ll go from there,” added Abbott.

Chatham Town boss, Alex O’Brien, who lives in Tonbridge, is desperate to silence Abbott.

“Sittingbourne are going for the play-off’s and we’re going to get on a little run and start winning so the bottom line is it’s a Kent derby. Whether we’re playing Dartford, Dover or Sittingbourne, it’s what it is. It’s a Kent derby, so let the battle commence,” O’Brien told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Speaking about the newspaper comments, O’Brien said, “I’ve not said anything! What he has said is fair enough. It’s up to him to be confident but if he was that confident it makes me wonder why he’s probable been to see us three or four times recently.

“He’s obviously concerned with the way we play or he lives near the ground. I’m not sure.

“But football’s not black and white and it’snot easy just turning up and let’s get three points.

“My lads are confident that we’ll work hard and we’ll go about our business and what a fantastic night to win a game of football.”

O’Brien is still hurting from the Boxing Day drubbing at Bourne Park and will use that as an incentive to end their miserable run against Sittingbourne.

“They know each other in and out, they’ve got mates (in the Sittingbourne side) and it’s still fresh in the mind that the second half performance that they had when they beat us 4-0 is still a very sore point for myself and Lew (Watts).

“We need points. What a fantastic opportunity to start getting some points.”

With Sittingbourne at full-strength, Chatham are still without the services of Richard Avery (ankle) and John Wilfort (suspension).

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

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

Chatham Town v Sittingbourne

Ryman League Division One South

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Maidstone Road Sports Ground, Bournville Avenue, Chatham, Kent ME4 6ES