Sittingbourne manager Nick Davis delighted with pre-season progress

Nick Davis believes Sittingbourne are ahead of schedule after another strong pre-season showing.

Summer signing Harry Harding scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 friendly win at Phoenix Sports on Saturday.

Fellow new boy Bagasan Graham and Chris Elliott, a full-back who played under Davis during his previous spell in charge, were also on target.

“I’m really pleased,” said boss Davis.

“We played some good football on Saturday and we’re starting to form partnerships and gel.

“We’re ahead of where we need to be but I keep saying we need to keep our feet on the ground.

“We’ve played three, won three, scored 11, conceded none, which is pleasing, but there’s still lots to work on.

“We’ve got four weeks until the season starts, so we’ve got time to iron bits out, but the fitness levels are looking really good and, to be honest, with the leaders we’ve got in the squad, they’re taking care of business themselves.

“I’m really pleased but it means nothing in pre-season.”

Harding continues to shine since joining from Swale rivals Faversham, the hat-trick taking his tally to five goals in friendlies.

He’ll have a big part to play in Isthmian South East this season.

Davis said: “The difference in the four weeks we’ve been back - he said he’d get his fitness up quickly and he has.

“One of the goals he scored on Saturday was just a half-chance, it was an unbelievable finish. He’s got that ability to score goals.

“James (Collins, ex-Faversham boss) would say he used him all over last season but we’ll certainly look to utilise him as far up the pitch as possible, whether that’s as a No.9 or a No.10, because when he’s in and around the box, he’s deadly.

“He works so hard as well, he covers the ground, he’s just a good player.”

Harding and his