Three points over Whitstable will keep us in the play-off pack, says Gary Abbott

Monday 08th November 2010

SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott says he is keeping faith with his defensive teenage quartet that impressed on Saturday - despite going down to a 2-1 home defeat to league leaders Leatherhead, writes Stephen McCartney.

“I was quite pleased to be honest with you, considering the team we had out,” Abbott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I thought the first half was quite even, until they got the penalty just before half-time, which put a dampener on it because I thought we should have gone in nil-nil. Then it could have been different.

“Second half they did start better than us, they got the second goal. It hit the post and came back of Matt Reed’s head, which was a bit unlucky and I thought once Tom (Bradbrook) scored and we got back into it.

“I thought we were brilliant in the last 20 minutes. I can’t fault the boys. We had a little spell in the last 20 minutes and I thought we deserved to get a second goal and get a draw out of it really.

“Obviously they were the league leaders, I’ll be honest with you, I thought we done really well.”

With Nick Reeves away on family business, Abbott was forced to play four teenagers against Leatherhead on Saturday and the Sittingbourne boss praised Shaun Raggett, 16, who has arrived from Dover Athletic’s youth academy.

He said: “If you look at our back four they were 18, 18, 18 and sixteen, so looking at that straight away I can’t fault the boys, they were brilliant and I thought we deserved something out of the game.

“Everyone’s back now. Joe Horlock and Sam Collins’ suspensions are finished so they are all available for Tuesday. The only one we’ve got missing is Nick Reeves and I don’t think he’ll make it in time and I’ll put him on the bench and see if he turns up for the second half.

“He went to France on Thursday, which I was really annoyed about so he missed Saturday, but the sixteen-year-old, Shaun Raggatt came in and he was outstanding so he’ll start again for us tomorrow. I thought he was brilliant. He gave the penalty away, I think it was a bit of a dodgy penalty anyway, but the boy done well.

“Joe Horlock may come back in but I’m not sure yet because we’ve been playing well but I don’t really want to change it all around but we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”

Fifth-placed Sittingbourne will be looking to get rid of their disappointing recent record against Whitstable Town when Mark Lane brings his side to Bourne Park on Tuesday night.

The Oystermen are desperate for points as thy have bagged only two wins and three draws from their 13 league games this season and go into the Kent derby with only Corinthian-Casuals below them in the Ryman League Division One South table.

“We’ve lost our last two but I think Burgess Hill have lost the last two as well so we’re still in a good position but with a long way to go but tomorrow night has got to be three points,” said Abbott.

“It’s important we do get three points and we need to stay in the top five or six all the way through Christmas and come out the other side in the same position if not a little bit higher.

“We know where they are (in the table), but like I’ve said all along for two years it doesn’t mean anything. They came down to us last year and they were 3-0 up after fifteen minutes and we had an absolute nightmare!

“We then came back to 3-2 and I still thought we could have won it. It could have ended up 5-3 with all the chances we missed.

“We went down there a month ago and got beat down there as well. They’ll be looking to get another three points but we need to turn it around as well to keep us in that play-off pack.”

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

Sittingbourne v Whitstable Town

Ryman League Division One South

Tuesday 9th November 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink Industrial Estate, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB