Lovell tells his players to take their chances - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Despite going nine games without a win, Sittingbourne manager Steve Lovell is confident his side will return to winning ways once they start taking the numerous chances that they create, writes Stephen McCartney.

Since becoming the first side to win a league game at Dartford’s new Princes Park Stadium, winning 2-1 on 25^th November, the Brickies have bagged just five draws from their last nine Ryman League Division One South games.

But tomorrow’s visitors, Hastings United have proved that if you put on a good run of results you will climb the table.

The east Sussex club were at the foot of the table during the early weeks of the campaign but are now in fifth spot after 25 games and are sitting in the last play-off berth.

“We’ve had that run and we’re only nine points off the play-off’s,” Lovell said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of their game against his former club.

“It just shows you how we’ve started the season. Most teams go through a period where they find problems, injuries, suspensions, lack of form and them three things have come like double decker buses, they’ve all come at once.”

Losing their leading goalscorer, Andy Doerr, to a broken leg during the 1-1 Boxing Day draw with Maidstone United hasn’t helped.

“I think it’s helped towards the bad run we’ve had,” said Lovell. “We have not scored as many goals as we did the first part of the season.

“Defensively we’ve been quite sound but we’re not taking our chances at the moment.”

Cray Wanderers’ skipper, Jamie Kempster scored the only goal of the game at Bourne Park on Saturday, but Lovell felt his side deserved more.

“We had four, maybe five, clear-cut chances and had one cleared off the line and their goalkeeper made some saves and we missed chances to win the game quite clearly,” he said.

But Lovell is putting their bad run to the back of his mind and believes his side will get back on track.

“I think if you get concerned you go into a panic,” he said. “It’s how you deal with it and we’ll keep going.

“I won’t change anything because we’re still playing quite well and if we take our chances we will get back onto winning ways.”

Lovell is, however, relishing tomorrow’s game against Hastings, adding: “I look forward to every game - it’s a challenge.

“Hastings are on a good roll. The last 12 games they’ve won something like nine or ten games. It just shows you if you go on a good run then you can move up the league.”

Jon Neal has recovered from his groin strain and following a training session at the weekend, has been drafted into the squad.

But Lovell will be without Mitchell Sherwood, who picked up a hamstring injury against Cray Wanderers on Saturday.

Andy Doerr (out long-term with a broken leg), Lee Hockey (back strain), James Campbell (calf strain) and Charlie Belcher (ankle) have also been ruled out.

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

Sittingbourne v Hastings United
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 30^th January 2007
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 3SB