It feels good to be joint-top, admits Lovell - EXCLUSIVE

Sittingbourne boss Steve Lovell wants his side to maintain their 100% record at Kentish rivals Ashford Town tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.

The impressive Brickies defeated Walton Casuals 3-2 at a boiling hot Bourne Park yesterday to remain joint-top of the Ryman League Division One South table with Dover Athletic and Kingstonian.

Steve Hafner, a summer signing from Dartford, scored his first goal for the Brickies after eighteen minutes, with an exquisite lob from 20-yards, before Lee Browning doubled their lead six minutes into the second half.

And Sittingbourne were flying when Bradley Spice, back at Bourne Park following a year at rivals Dover Athletic, netted from the spot with fifteen minutes remaining.

And with all six substitutes on the pitch, two of these, Chris Kiganda and Grant Keywood netted for the visitors in the last six minutes to make it a nail-biting finale as the north Kent side clinched their third successive win of the new season.

And after beating Worthing (1-0) and Leatherhead (2-1) last week, Lovell wants his side to keep that run going at The Homelands tomorrow.

“We deserve to be there because we’ve won three games, it’s as simple as that,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk yesterday.

“Anybody whose up the top at whatever stage of the season, you deserve it, because you’ve won the games.

“We won against Worthing and Leatherhead and I would have taken that before the season starts.

“We’ve got another big game on Monday against Ashford now and that’s the one we’ve got to look forward to and make sure we get something out of that.”

Ashford Town welcome the Brickies to The Homelands having defeated Chatham Town and Whyteleafe, by scoring the only goal of the game, following their disappointing opening day defeat to Kingstonian, when they lost 2-0.

And Lovell is expecting another tough game, against Clive Walker’s Ashford.

He said: “”They’re all tough, no games is easy and if you approach it that way, you’re approaching it the wrong way.

“Every game is hard, every game is a difficult game, you’ve got to really work hard, you’ve got to roll your sleeves up on the day.”

And Lovell hopes his side will be enjoying more “good feelings” come 5pm tomorrow.

“I said to the boys before the game, the game football, and life in general if all about good feelings” he said.

“If you’ve got good feelings in football, then that’s what you’ve got to aim for.

“To win games, to be top of the league, or joint-top, it’s a good feeling.

“Manchester United’s and the Chelsea’s, they don’t do it for any other reason but other than it feels good.

“That’s how the boys are feeling at the moment, it feels good to be at the top and they want to keep that feeling.

“So hopefully we’ll continue it, and hopefully we can build on it and take it into the months ahead, which are going to be very tough in the winter.”

Meanwhile, Tommy Adlington, who was released by Ashford Town boss Walker just before the start of the new season, has joined Kent League side, Hythe Town, joining former team-mate Ian Ross who arrived at Reachfields Stadium last month.

And Gary Clarke, the midfielder whose also been released, has signed for Kent League side, Tunbridge Wells.

Clarke impressed during Wells' 3-0 RESERVE team win at Deal Town yesterday, but reserve team manager, Mike Robbins, expects to lose him to first team manager, Martin Farnie, very soon.

Robbins told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk:  "Gary has helped me out whilst I helped him out.  I don't expect him to play (for the reserves again) as Martin Farnie has already been on the phone about him!"


Visit club websites:

www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk

www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Ashford Town v Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Bank Holiday Monday, 27^th August 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Homelands, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ