Proud Sittingbourne manager Reece Prestedge says squad’s efforts this season worthy of praise despite Isthmian South East play-off defeat to AFC Croydon Athletic

Sittingbourne boss Reece Prestedge had mixed emotions after their Isthmian South East play-off exit.

The Brickies lost 2-0 away to AFC Croydon Athletic to bow out at the semi-final stage on Tuesday night.

It’s the third successive season that Sittingbourne have missed out in the play-offs, but Prestedge was still proud of the return from his players since stepping into the hotseat when Ryan Maxwell left for Welling United in mid-November.

A 5-0 win over VCD last Saturday ensured they finished fifth in the table, although a trip to second-placed Croydon proved a game too far.

“When we came in, obviously, we wanted to get into the play-offs and get promotion,” said Prestedge.

“From where we were, to the run we had at the start and putting wins together, I think we went 15 matches without losing a game.

“You’ve got to take those achievements into next year.

“At the same time, obviously, the result on Tuesday was disappointing. You can look back over the season, and there’s probably results there that you look at and think, probably should have nicked it there or we should have done this.

“But, like I’ve said in other interviews, what team wouldn’t be able to say that this season?

“The league this year has been a lot more competitive than it has in recent years. So, to be in that top five, I think is an achievement in itself.

“I’ve told the players that they’ve done the club proud. I just said, ‘hold your heads high because I have to thank you’. When we came in we were 12th and we got in the play-offs. I think people wrote us off at the time.

“To get in there and do what we’ve done, I have to say thank you because they’ve done that and they’ve believed in the way we want to do things.

“The fight and endeavour, the desire and