Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell left with welcome selection headaches amid eight-match unbeaten run; VCD Athletic at home next up

Boss Ryan Maxwell has some welcome selection headaches amid Sittingbourne’s eight-match unbeaten run.

The Brickies completed an Isthmian South East derby double over Faversham last weekend, winning 1-0 through defender Joe Tyrie’s first-half goal.

An incredible finish saw a stoppage-time spot-kick awarded against Bourne keeper Harley Earle, who was injured and unable to continue.

But defender Harrison Pont came off the bench at Salters Lane to save former Gillingham striker Adebayo Akinfenwa’s spot-kick on his home debut.

“It’s a squad game these days,” said Maxwell, who brought in former Folkestone midfielder Simo Mbonkwi for Toch Singh.

“We have changed the shape, changed personnel and everyone has given me a great performance.

“It’s given me a great headache because I’m having to really think hard on who’s starting.

“We made a change on Saturday and I must say that Simo was man-of-the-match until he hurt his knee. He was outstanding, having come in for Toch.

“Everyone’s doing their roles so I’m delighted.”

The Brickies have moved up to mid-table and have greatly improved since Maxwell came in this year. They last lost at Hythe in mid-February.

He said: “It’s been a good turnaround, hasn’t it?

“Fair play to the players. They’re giving me everything and they’re all making an impact.

“No matter if they’ve been here for one week or eight weeks, everyone is straight in, doing their jobs, mucking in and that’s how we won on Saturday because everyone put a shift in.

“They carried out their jobs and their roles perfectly well.

“It’s a derby so it’s always going to be messy on a pitch like that.

"We have got some very good footballers but Saturday wasn’t about that.

“It was about percentages, doing the right things in the