Missed chances are costing us dearly, admits Sittingbourne boss Joe Dowley

SITTINGBOURNE manager Joe Dowley says his young forward line must start taking their chances after going down to a 4-0 defeat at Faversham Town last night, writes Stephen McCartney.


Aaron Quain and Adrian Stone scored two goals apiece as the clinical Lilywhites claimed the Swale bragging rights with victory at Salters Lane.

Dowley, 28, said: “I cannot remember any other real chances, shots on target, other than the four goals, but that’s the difference between the two teams.

“They’ve taken the chances they created and we’ve not taken any.   They’ve got two good forwards (Stone and Danny Hockton) up there who’ve both played at a good level.  I’d love to be able to take one of them just for their finishing ability, but I’ve got a young forward line who know they’ve got to take their chances.

“I don’t want to have to start looking for people who will, but at the moment it is costing us and while we’re making mistakes at the other end, we’re not going to win football matches.”

Dowley takes his side to one of his former clubs (Ramsgate) on Saturday, before the lucrative clash against tenants Maidstone United on Monday, 2 January (3pm).

“Ramsgate will be a tough game,” he said.  “We would have set ourselves up nicely for that one, even the next two games, if we could have taken a point last night.

“They’re both going to be tough, probably tougher than last night.

“Ramsgate will be strong, organised and I know (Ramsgate manager) Jim Ward well.  It will be a tough game and we’ve got to pick ourselves up as I don’t think we’re four goals worse than Faversham.

“It’s one of those nights where we’ve made mistakes, not taken our chances, and it has cost us dearly.”

STAT ATTACK:
Sittingbourne have gone 371 minutes since scoring a league goal – Hickham Akazzan’s strike during their 2-1 home win over Crawley Down on 29 November was the last.
Sittingbourne have now gone five league and cup games without a win.
Sittingbourne’s leading goalscorer is 10-goal Joe Goldsmith.
Fifteen players have scored for Ramsgate in league and cup matches this season.  Pascal Ebigbo is their leading goalscorer with six.

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

Ramsgate  v  Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 31^st December 2011
Kick Off 1:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN