Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell reads riot act twice in draw at Isthmian South East leaders Beckenham | Brickies in midweek action at Sevenoaks before hosting Hythe

Sittingbourne players were read the riot act twice on Saturday - despite turning around their performance at Isthmian South East leaders Beckenham.

Manager Ryan Maxwell was hugely disappointed with the Brickies’ first-half display and Mitchell May’s 41st-minute equaliser was never going to spare them a half-time rocket.

The visitors were a team transformed after the break, although it took an injury-time Troy Howard header to rescue a 2-2 draw after Beckenham regained the lead just after the hour mark.

The fact they showed what they were capable of added to Maxwell’s frustration at what went before it.

“They got a rocket at half-time, a few home truths, and it was a completely different second half,” said Maxwell, whose side visit Sevenoaks tonight (7.45pm).

“I felt as if we just turned up expecting to win the game and you’re very disrespectful if you think you’re going to go anywhere, never mind a team who are top of the league, and win before a ball’s been kicked.

“If you think like that, you’re in for a shock and they were, they were shocked how good Beckenham were.

“We spoke about it afterwards and if they got a flea in their ear at half-time, they got worse at full-time, I can tell you that.

“I said it’s not acceptable. No one has a divine right to win any game, that’s why football is so loved because anyone can beat anyone.

“It’s good to have confidence, of course it is, but over-confidence gets you caught out.

“We got caught out for 45 minutes and ultimately it cost us two points.”

Maxwell was surprised by Sittingbourne’s complacency, given Beckenham’s position at the top of the table.

They could have won, based on second-half chances, but needed substitute Howard to secure a draw.

“The first half was nothing like