Isthmian South East side Sittingbourne take on Dover Athletic in FA Trophy first round at Crabble this Saturday after big home wins over Hythe Town and Herne Bay

Sittingbourne head to in-form Dover Athletic in the FA Trophy hoping to knock them out of a national competition for the second time this season.

Ryan Maxwell’s Isthmian South East side face Dover at Crabble this Saturday in the FA Trophy first round, having already beaten them in the FA Cup last month.

The Brickies won a first-qualifying round replay in Dover 1-0 but Maxwell wants his men to forget all about that cup upset as they hope to produce another.

“We have to erase that game entirely,” said the Brickies boss.

“It’s a different test for us, we have played them twice already so it’s someone we know pretty well but I think all of that has to go out of the window. We just have to approach it totally fresh.

“It’s a test we’ll be well prepared for after our game on Tuesday (away to Herne Bay). It’s a very tough draw to go there and win but I love a test and a challenge and I think my boys do as well.”

Dover are top of the Isthmian Premier Division scoring an average of three goals a game.

Their last trip to Dover was on a Tuesday night and so there should be a bigger following to the Kent coast for a Saturday fixture.

“There’s talk of taking 150-200 fans,” said the Sittingbourne manager.

“The would be absolutely incredible because 200 or so Sittingbourne fans sounds like 1,000. We had 80-odd there before and they were tremendous.

“Saturday will be a big bumper crowd, I'm sure, and you've got to look forward to these games.”

Sittingbourne’s own impressive form continued on Tuesday night, beating Herne Bay 4-1 at home.

Mitchell May – who scored four at the weekend – netted twice more to take his season tally to 16, with Jack Steventon getting the night’s opener and Ryan Kingsford also netting.

Isthmian South East table