Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell on reaching 30 matches unbeaten | Brickies boss welcomes new signing Ade Azeez, reacts to FA Trophy draw against Aldershot and speaks about releasing Harley Earle

Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell has hailed his players’ achievement in going 30 matches unbeaten.

The Brickies brought up the milestone with a 2-1 victory at Steyning in Isthmian South East on Saturday.

And they’re out to continue their terrific form when they host promotion rivals Margate at Woodstock tonight (7.45pm).

Sittingbourne last tasted defeat against Plymouth Parkway in an FA Cup qualifier in September.

Their unbeaten run includes six higher-division scalps in the FA Trophy, most notably National League Southend.

“We’ve all been around the block enough to know that 30 games unbeaten is a tremendous number,” said Maxwell.

“It would be tremendous as league games but amongst those, there’s three Step 3 clubs, two Step 2 clubs and a Step 1 club, so it’s even more remarkable.

“I can’t give the boys enough credit for sticking at it, showing discipline, focus, desire, hunger, all the ingredients you need to go on a 30-game unbeaten run.

“You’re everyone’s scalp, everyone’s trying harder to be the one to stop you, so everyone’s raising their game and we’ve got to raise ours even more.

“I cannot give the boys enough credit or a harder pat on their back than what I’ve already done but they’re doing tremendously well.

“To me, it’s just numbers. What’s important to me is that consistency in performance, and we’ve been very consistent at both ends of the pitch.

“I try to install in the players’ mindset that the next game is the most important one, no matter what competition it may be in, so scratch what’s gone before and start again every week.”

Second-placed Sittingbourne boast a 100% home league record, winning all 14 matches at Woodstock.

They have a chance to move a point behind leaders Ramsgate but Margate, in