I want to win something as a manager, says Sittingbourne boss Nick Davis

SITTINGBOURNE manager Nick Davis says he suffered sleepless nights during the club’s thirteen league game losing streak.

The Brickies’ losing run in the Ryman League Division One South started with a 2-1 home defeat to Dorking Wanderers back on 22 September 2015 and ended with a 2-1 home win over their Kent rivals Chatham Town on 12 December.

Sittingbourne are now on a run of four unbeaten games and have turned the corner and sit in nineteenth-place in the table on 26 points from as many games, three points clear of the relegation zone.

“We had a terrible run. I’m just glad we got out of that run,” admitted Davis, following his side’s battling goal-less draw at Dorking Wanderers in midweek, playing the game with ten men for 48 minutes after striker Miles Cornwell was red-carded.

“It’s very, very hard, sleepless nights, the lot. It’s not just finishing at the ground for me, it goes on for three, four, five days. 

“We look at ourselves, could we do something better? Could we not?

“I think losing by one goal nine of the 12 games, if we’d scored two goals in any of those games we’d get 15 points. We hit the post, we done all sorts apart from get that second goal.

“We haven’t been beaten convincingly apart from that Chipstead game (losing 6-1 at home), other than that we’ve been in every other game. I think that hurts even more because we’re so close to getting there. We’re not getting beat three or four each week.”

Sittingbourne’s players can enjoy their Christmas Day as their next game isn’t until Bank Holiday Monday, 28 December, when Ramsgate visit Woodstock Park.

The Rams are managed by former Sittingbourne pair Jim and Danny Ward and they sit in third-place in the table on 49 points from 28 games, 14 points adrift of runaway leaders Folkestone Invicta, who travel to local rivals Hythe Town on Sunday afternoon.

“We normally play Boxing Day. I’ve normally been used to it. We have a couple of days off over Christmas, which is nice,” said Davis.

“It’s important for the lads to do something outside (of football). I don’t know if we can train, I don’t think there will be time.

“It will be a great opportunity against my old friends, Jim and Danny, I’ve got nothing but respect for the pair of them and what they do.

“We know a lot about one another and each other’s teams. They want to get one over us. Danny texted me a few weeks back and he said ‘we owe you one!’

“We beat them 3-1 at their place, probably the best we’ve played on – we outplayed them on that day.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to do the double over them. It’s my old club, I’ve fond memories there. I had a fantastic time there.”

Sittingbourne then travel to seventh-placed Faversham Town on 2 January 2015, before hosting Tooting & Mitcham in the League Cup Quarter-Finals on 5 January.

“We’re in the Quarter-Finals of the Ryman League Cup.  We beat Merstham away, we beat Hastings away and we beat Chatham away and we’ve got Tooting & Mitcham at home in the Quarter-Finals, so what a great incentive.

“I’ve been fortunate enough, I’ve won that Cup twice as a player for Ramsgate and Fisher and how many opportunities do you get as a manager or as a player of a Ryman League club to win something? You don’t! You’re ever going to win the league, you’re never going to win The FA Trophy, of course, The FA Cup.

“I want to win something as a manager. These players want to win something. It’s a senior trophy and we’re going to try. It’s a buzz that we’re still in it. We’re on a great run in that.”

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

Sittingbourne  v  Ramsgate
Ryman League Division One South
Bank Holiday Monday, 28 December 2015
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Woodstock Park, Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AG