Let's finish the season on a high-note, says Lovell - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The central midfielder has impressed in the Brickies’ under eighteen’s and reserve sides recently and has been given his chance to impress at Ryman League level as Lovell aims to finish the campaign on a high.

Sittingbourne thumped Molesey 5-1 on Saturday and the Bourne Park outfit are in eleventh place in the Ryman League Division One South table going into the last week of the season.

And Lovell asks his side to end their campaign on a high against Horsham YMCA and third placed side Fleet Town (Saturday).

“Very pleased with the end of the season form,” Lovell said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk hours before tonight’s game.

“We’ve been threatening this for a long time and it could have been a lot more than five as well.”

Had Sittingbourne not suffered from a penalty spot curse this season, then Lovell feels his side would have been challenging for a place in the play-off’s.

“I think we’ve missed six or seven penalties this year, at important times in games as well,” he said.

“That could have meant a few more points to us and (we) could have been there or there abouts for the play-off’s (had we scored them).”

Lovell, however, revealed some good news regarding 10-goal striker Andy Doerr.

The former Lordswood hit-man was Sittingbourne’s leading goalscorer until he broke his leg against Maidstone United on Boxing Day.

“Andy’s back doing some training with Chris Daisy, our fitness coach and I’m pretty sure he’ll be back for pre-season,” revealed Lovell.

“We’ve missed Andy, we’ve missed his goalscoring ability and we can look forward. He’ll come back and get back to the form he showed before.”

In Doerr’s absence, Lee Browning has, however, impressed in a glittering strike partnership with Mark Lovell.

Fifteen-goal Lovell has scored two goals more than midfielder-turned-striker Browning.

Praising Browning, Lovell said: “Since we stuck him up front against Tooting, he’s performed very well with Mark.

“They have stuck up a good partnership and of course, he’s scored some goals as well.”

Following Saturday’s finale against Fleet Town, Sittingbourne are staging their presentation evening, inside the Bourne Park clubhouse at 7:30pm.

Admission to the event for supporters is just £3 - and this includes a barbecue straight after the game.

And Lovell isn’t sure whose going to scoop the awards.

He said: “There’s been some outstanding players this year so I wouldn’t like to guess - they’ve all given everything.”

Lovell still needs to sit down with club officials and discuss his budget for next season.

“We don’t need to release anybody, it’s about keeping players,” he said.

“I don’t want to release anybody but it’s down to the financial position at the football club and that is going to be addressed at the end of the season.

“Whatever the club can make available to me, it’s up to me to utilities it (in) the best way.

“Until that’s sorted out I can’t say too much to anybody.”

Reflecting on their campaign, Lovell said: “I think the season’s been quite good in general.

“We had a very good start and we’re finishing very strong, it was just the middle part.

“I must admit results didn’t go out way - penalty misses and decisions going against us.

“We’ve played quite consistently all through the season but you have to put your good performances into wins but if you look at the table we’ve had too many draws.”

Lovell urges all fans to flock to Bourne Park tonight and on Saturday to give his side a good send off before the summer break.

He added: “We’ll try and finish on a high note. We’re in a bit of form at the moment, so hopefully that can carry on from Saturday’s game and (we can) finish with two good performances.”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Sittingbourne v Horsham YMCA
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 24^th April 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB