We're delighted that we came away from Eastbourne with a point, says Jim Ward

SITTINBOURNE joint-manager Jim Ward says it was all hands to the pump for their battling 2-2 draw at struggling Eastbourne Town last night.



Striker Ryan Golding scored his 29^th goal of the season (fourteen of them were for Kent Invicta League side Crockenhill) and Nick Davis popped up to score a last gasp equaliser as it looked like the Sussex side would grab a vital three points.

Sittingbourne’s inpressive seven-match unbeaten run came to an end last Saturday when Worthing came away from Bourne Park with a 2-1 win.

Ward said: “Funnily enough about three weeks ago I went to watch Worthing play Eastbourne. We didn’t have a game so I spent some time with my daughter down in Brighton and I drove along to Eastbourne to watch the game.

“It’s funny how things are this year becaue Eastbourne absolutely slaughtered Worthing on the day and got beat 1-0 and when we played Worthing last Saturday I was surprised with the quality they had even though they’ve been on a great run.

“They deserved to edge the game on Saturday. We might have got a draw on other days, but on the day it was probably their three points.”

Ward added:  “And it came to no surprsie to me last night when I went down to Eastbourne and found how strong they were beacause Eastbourne haven’t won a game for ages. I think they’ve lost seven in a row. Last night was their first point for ages.

“It was no surprise to me how strong they were. Eastbourne were good last night. It took a 97^th minute equaliser from Nick Davis for us to get the point.”

Reflecting on the game, Ward said: “There was a lot of mitigating circumstances last night. We got down there at twenty-past-seven. My kit man was ill so me and Danny (Ward) had to do the kit and it was all hands to the pump last night.

“It was a typical non-league night. We had to travel 90 miles from Broadstairs to Eastbourne. It was all hands to the pump and we had players turning up every ten minutes – it was a nightmare!

“At the end of the day we’re delighted that we came away with a point.”

Ward praised his front pairing of Golding and Joe Taylor by saying, “The talk in the dressing room is Joe Taylor is making all these penalties and Ryan Golding takes the penalties and scores from them!

“Joe Tayloe must have more assists than anyboy else in the league – and he’s scored nine goals as well.

“Both Ryan Golding and Joe Taylor are a joy to work with, really professional, they listen, their attitudes are exlempary.

Ward also paid tribue to Davis, who scored his fourth goal of the season to salvage a point.

“The game was all but finished and in the last ten minutes we had about seven forwards up there,” said Ward.

“Tom Loynes cut in on he left wing and nicked it across and Nick got his tremendous left foot to it and it bounced six times and fell in the bottom corner and we’ll take it!

“Nick Davis has always got goals for me in all those years he’s been in and out of my clubs and he’s always done well. He keeps saying he’ll get me ten goals this year. The boy leads from example. He’s played for some top clubs, Fisher and all this stuff.”

Sittingbourne travel to Hythe Town on Saturday, just four points behind Scott Porter’s side.

“A tough game,” said Ward. “We’re a bit thin on the ground. We have been for the last two games.

“We’ve got no Tredwell, Ashley Ulph and Ollie Gray. They’re three stature players for us and we’re without the three of them on Saturday, so we’ll go there and no doubt the lads who will fill their places will come in as they have done all year.

“We’ll go down there knowing what we’re up against. Hythe are a big, strong team. They’ll be up for it. They know it’s important. Third-versus-fourth. It will be a cracking game. There will be a good crowd there I should imagine.”

A member of the Hythe Town groundstaff said the pitch at Reachfields Stadium was still frozen on Wednesday morning but they hope to have it rolled and marked in time of Sittingbourne’s visit.

Ward revealed Sittingbourne are coping with the current freezing temperatures when it comes to training.

He said: “The only game we had off was down to the rain when we were down to play Eastbourne about three weeks’ ago.  Our game Saturday was on and our game last night was on.

“It’s difficult when it’s frosty and when it’s extra wet.  Everyone wants to use an indoor facility or a 3G pitch that are available up and down the county but everybody wants to use them at the same time and don’t want to use it when it’s fine weather.

“Sometimes it’s not as easy as you think to get hold of these facilities unless you use them all the time. Sometimes a club can’t afford to have that facility at hand every week so we’re lucky we have a training pitch at the side of the pitch so if it’s wet we can train on there without ruining our own pitch.

“Our pitch may not be the best in the world.  We’ve got no reserves, our Academy plays on it on a Wednesday now and again, probably once a month. It doesn’t get a lot of useage.  Our pitch is probably the best it’s been for a few years.”

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

Hythe Town  v  Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 15^th December 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Reachfields Stadium, off Fort Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6JS