Kentish Football 
Lovell: We must stay in contention - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Sittingbourne manager Steve Lovell was delighted that his side became the first Kent away side to win at Dartford’s new £6.5m Princes Park Stadium, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Brickies came away with a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Lee Hockey and Ricky Spiller in front of a crowd of 1,047 on Saturday.
“A nice new stadium, very nice, the pitch was lovely and suited us,” Lovell said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “We knocked the ball around and played very well there.”
Lovell was manager of Sittingbourne when they played at Central Park Stadium and faced teams that raised their game at their old home.
“I was talking to Radio Kent on Saturday and I said exactly the same thing,” said Lovell. “The opposition at Sittingbourne, with the facilities there, raised their game and I think Dartford will have the initial problem there but they have the skill to over come that.
“We played very well, they took the lead but in the second half we came back and played particularly well.”
Sittingbourne are currently occupying the last play-off berth, but with their next two games being at Bourne Park, Lovell wants to bag six points.
“I want to go higher than that as long as we stay in contention,” said Lovell. “We’ve got two home games now, hopefully we can get two good results and we can find ourselves in a better position.”
Kent rivals Ashford Town are the visitors on Tuesday night before Hastings United, Lovell’s former side, visit on Saturday.
Looking forward to Ashford’s visit, Lovell said: “Well, it will be a tough game again. I don’t take any team lightly.
“Hopefully we can produce a performance we’ve been showing the last few weeks and get the three points.
And the Welshman is relishing Saturday’s visit from the east Sussex side Hastings United, who like Ashford are at the wrong end of the Ryman League Division One South table.
Lovell added: “A good club. I enjoyed myself there and it’s a big club potentially.
“They’ve picked up a good couple of results over the last few weeks and again it will be a very tough game.”
Lovell is, however, keeping his team selection close to his chest, but he did reveal that 10-goal top-scorer Andy Doerr and James Campbell have both been ruled out for the derby with Ashford.
Visit club websites:
Sittingbourne v Ashford Town
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 25th November 2006
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB
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