We'll be looking to finish the season strogly, says Sittingbourne manager Joe Dowley

SITTINGBOURNE manager Joe Dowley says he will know where his side stands in the pecking order after their massive festive programme, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Brickies sit in fourteenth place in the Ryman League Division One South table with five wins and nine draws from 21 matches and Dowley is relishing the three big Kent derbies.

They travel to Swale rivals Faversham Town on Tuesday, 27 December (7:45pm) and then on to Ramsgate on New Years’ Eve (1:00pm), before locking horns with tenants Maidstone United at Bourne Park on Monday, 2 January (3:00pm)

“We trained last night and I said to the players all three games that we’ve got over Christmas are all local derbies, they’re good games to play in,” said Dowley.

“There will be a few more people than we get in usual games in terms of crowd and all three are good to play in.

“We should be looking to come away with points, so I’m looking forward to all three games and hopefully we can do ourselves justice.”

When asked whether he has set his side a points target over this period, Dowley replied, “I haven’t.  I have one in mind and I’ll know if we can take six points out of those three games then I’ll be happy.

“All three of them are good sides, well organised and difficult games and I’ll be more than happy to take six points but I’m not putting pressure on the players.”

The landlords-versus-tenants clash against Maidstone United is the fixture that chairman Andy Spice is looking forward to as this will bring much-needed bodies flocking through the turnstiles.

Dowley agreed, saying, “Hopefully there will be bigger crowds, especially the Maidstone game, that will please the chairman, I think, if we do manage to get a big crowd for that!”

Rookie boss Dowley, 28, has been in charge of Sittingbourne for only eighteen games and reflected on how he has adapted to his new role.

“Since I’ve been in charge – I won’t talk about before – personally it’s been quite a big learning curve and one I’ve enjoyed as well to be honest with you,” he said.

“Hopefully we can pick up a few more results.  We’ve been unlucky in certain games, others we’ve deserved not to get anything out of it.

“Overall, I’m quite pleased.  The squad has settled down as well since I’ve been in charge and the new players that have come in are quite happy with where they are, so it’s settling nicely for me to be honest with you.

“It has been a learning curve.  I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it when I was asked to do it and take over as caretaker manager.  I was thrown in the deep end, which was probably the best way to deal with it.

“I’ve enjoyed it and we’ll see where we stand in the league after Christmas.  Hopefully we can push on next year and finish the season strongly.”

Dowley believes his players will look after themselves over the festive period.

“I did have a chat with them all and I don’t need to say too much to be honest with you,” he said.

“I’ve got a young side, they’re all fit lads and most of them I know socially as well and they’re not heavy drinkers or anything.

“I’ve said to all of them to look after themselves.  They’re all fit lads, they’re all young lads and they’re fairly sensible as well so I’ve got no worries over that.”

Sittingbourne have failed to score in three of their last four games and when asked what 2012 will bring the club, Dowley hopes for better luck in front of goal.

He said: “A few more new faces possibly. We need to start scoring goals.  I think that will help.  Hopefully the change of the year will change our luck.

“I said to the players, in February time your seasons finished and you’re playing the last three months with nothing to play for.  It’s not fun, it’s not enjoyable to play in.  If we get results in these games (over Christmas) we’ll be looking to finish the season strongly.”

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

Faversham Town  v  Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 27^th December 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8ND