Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell reflects on 3-1 Isthmian South East defeat by Faversham as Brickies lose home league game for the first time in 19 months

Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell described the feeling of losing a home game as “alien”.

The Brickies suffered a league defeat at Woodstock for the first time in 27 matches after going down 3-1 to Swale rivals Faversham on Saturday.

Maxwell’s side recovered from a poor which saw them trail to the first of two Tashi-Jay Kwayie goals as Henry Sinai fired home a 25-yard free-kick.

Troy Howard, after dispossessing keeper Roshan Greensall well outside his area, and Rushaar Samuel-Smikle, missed big chances at 1-1 and Bourne paid the price as Eniye Amgbaduba and Kwayie’s clincher won it for Faversham.

Sittingbourne dropped a place to seventh in Isthmian South East, still only three points outside the play-offs, while Swale rivals Faversham sit third.

“I felt it was an extremely close game,” said Maxwell, whose side’s previous home defeat came in March 2024.

“I don’t think we started well. That’s obvious in the goal. It’s a poor goal to concede from a throw-in that bounced in the box.

“We slowly got back into it and scored a great free-kick, and I then think we’ve got to score when the keeper’s out of his goal, and Rushy’s got to score as well.

“Troy and Rushy have got to score in the first half.

“Rushy’s gone wide and Troy’s not made the most of it after the keeper’s out of his goal. He could have squared it to Rushy for a tap-in, so they’re two quite obvious chances to go ahead.

“Second half, after finishing the first half strong, I was convinced we would come out and at least get another goal.

“But, as they say in football, if you play enough games, eventually you’ll lose.

“We’ve had this unbelievable home record and I we just haven’t defended that record well enough.

“The two goals in the second half, one is definitely a