I said we would battle, we would play attractive, entertaining, attacking football and we would get out of this situation, says Sittingbourne boss Chris Lynch

SITTINGBOURNE manager Chris Lynch praised his players after coming away from Phoenix Sports with a 4-3 win yesterday.

 

The Brickies climbed up to sixteenth-place in the Bostik South East Division table, having picked up 20 points from 20 games and are three points adrift of basement side Greenwich Borough, who went down to a 3-1 defeat at Ramsgate.

Phoenix Sports pulled out all the stops to get the game played, working tirelessly to clear snow off the pitch, but Sittingbourne came away from the Mayplace Ground with Lynch’s first win at the fourth attempt since taking over the hotseat at Woodstock Park.

“With five players still out, we knew it was going to be another battle.  Unfortunately, five became six with new recruit Josh Spencer pulling up with a knee injury in the warm-up,” said Lynch, who gave Tom Loynes his 150^th appearance for the club.

“That meant young Jack Morrell had to be switched into the centre-back role at the last minute, seeing Rob Lofting come back into the frame at left-back.

“Going 2-0 up on 24 minutes showed just how dangerous we have become within the last three weeks, averaging 17 goalscoring opportunities per game in the last three matches alone, whereas previously we were lucky to have created between two and five per game.

“We knew the new players would take time to gel.  They have begun to do so already, hitting the ground running in very little time.  This comes down to the type of players I have introduced coupled with the existing players mentality and commitment to accepting them and working hard to build those all-important relationships.

“Having identified a major area of development from day one, the amount of and creating good goalscoring opportunities, I am more than happy with the returns thus far.   Now we must turn our attention to goals conceded and at certain times within matches.

“However, the squad must take high praise knowing we have achieved this with three top centre-backs out injured.

“As I am sure you have all seen by now, the last three games have shown a complete new belief, a new style and system and some great, entertaining football being produced.”

Sittingbourne welcome Ashford United to Woodstock Park on Tuesday night.

Tommy Warrilow has hit the ground running since coming in to replace Gary Alexander in November, winning eight of his 10 games in charge of the club and they climbed up into second-place following their 2-1 home win over Micky Collins’ Sevenoaks Town side yesterday.

They took second-spot for the first time after Hastings United were held to a 1-1 draw by Guernsey and Ashford United are now 13 points adrift of runaway leaders Cray Wanderers, who thrashed Herne Bay 6-0 at Hayes Lane.

“I said we would battle, we would play attractive, entertaining, attacking football and we would get out of this situation,” vowed Lynch.

“Three points have driven us back up to sixteenth-place and sets up nicely for the next set of matches where we will be looking to achieve safety as soon as possible.

“I am proud of the lads performances yet again. It takes a lot of heart to have the courage and self-belief, especially after the season we have had so far, to believe we can go out and beat anyone on our day.

“We are not afraid of anyone in this league.

“Next up we face another very good side in Ashford, where we go searching for another positive result.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.uk

Sittingbourne  v  Ashford United
Bostik South East Division
Tuesday 5 February 2019
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Woodstock Park, Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AG