Sittingbourne hoping to return to form in the Isthmian League South East after losing run

Three successive defeats for Sittingbourne leaves them struggling to keep up with the Isthmian South East play-off hopefuls - but the fight goes on.

The Brickies lost 2-1 to second-placed Cray Valley just a week after losing by the same scoreline to leaders Hastings United. They face Haywards Heath at home this Saturday - the team currently occupying the final play-off place.

With the management team already having one eye on next season, this weekend’s game looks set to be crucial in determining whether they have a hope of making it into the top five come the end of the season. There are 10 games left.

Assistant boss Darren Pont said: “If we can get on a bit of a run, win two or three games, then you never know. If we win on Saturday, it could all change.

“Looking at the budgets and the experience of the other sides if we did make the play-offs we would probably have overachieved. We have to be realistic and know where this group are, they are a young side, but we are not giving up.”

Saturday’s visitors Haywards Heath are nine points ahead of the Brickies.

Pont said: “We would love to win our next 10 games, we will try and get as many points and see where it takes us. We are making progress and with the young group, if we can keep it together then the more games they play the more experience they will get and it will put them in good stead for next season.

“They are a good group, the average age of the back line is 21-22, they have done really well as a group, conceding hasn’t been a problem, it is just scoring them at the other end.

“We don’t have money to chuck around for experienced players but we have players who are local-ish, love the club, the dressing room is good and it is a good group.”

Pont believes a bit of