Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell says his side are still in the Isthmian South East title race as Ramsgate’s lead cut to seven points

The Isthmian South East title fight goes on for Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell and his players.

Second-placed Bourne slipped 10 points behind leaders Ramsgate after losing 1-0 at Merstham on Saturday.

But the gap is back to seven after goals from Mitchell May and Henry Sinai in a 2-1 comeback victory at Hythe on Tuesday night

Relentless Rams are in pole position to land a first league title since Jim Ward led them to Isthmian Division 1 glory in 2006, chalking up 93 points from 35 games.

But they’ve been pipped by Chatham and Cray Valley in the past two seasons, when favourites to win the league, and Sittingbourne want to pounce on any slip-ups during a tough seven-game run-in.

“The fight goes on,” said Maxwell.

“Ramsgate have got teams who are all fighting for the fifth spot, in Three Bridges, Beckenham and Merstham.

“They’ve also got Margate, who are fourth, and us, so there’s no easy games for Ramsgate. We know anything can happen.

“It’s happened to Ramsgate before where they haven’t done enough and that may play on their minds.

“We’ve got just over a handful of games left and we’ve got to keep the pressure on Ramsgate.”

Sittingbourne have been boosted by the return of midfielders Jean-Baptiste Fischer and Luke Woodward from long-term knee injuries.

Fischer, a former PSG youth-team player, is back in action after more than a year out, making his comeback from the bench last week.

Woodward, last season’s manager’s player and players’ player-of-the-year, started at Hythe after featuring three times on dual-registration for Saffron Walden.

Maxwell, whose side host Eastbourne Town at Woodstock this Saturday (3pm), said: “I was delighted to see JB back in a Sittingbourne shirt.

“He’s shown real guts and I’m so pleased