Match Preview

SITTINGBOURNE v CRAY VALLEY (PM)
12th AUG 2023 – KICK OFF 3pm
PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE – SOUTH EAST DIVISION

VENUE :- Woodstock Park, Broadoak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8AG
DIRECTIONS: See Sittingbourne FC Website: https://www.kentmcl.co.uk/directions/

ADMISSION PRICES: It's a special pay what you can on the gate promotion by Sittingboune FC.

And so it begins. The opening league game of the season. Pre-season is done and dusted, a means to an end, confined to history, filed in the irrelevant section. It is what happens from now on in that counts.

Sittingbourne kicked off their competitive season on Saturday when they played Jersey Bulls in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round at Woodstock Park. The game ended goalless meaning a replay on Tuesday, which also took place at Woodstock Park following an agreement between the two clubs. Jersey Bulls went through winning 2-0 with two second half goals.

Sittingbourne nicknamed The Brickies were formed in 1886 and were founder members of the Kent League. Former Braintree manager Ryan Maxwell was appointed manager in January 2023 and will be looking to improve on their 11th place finish last season in his first full season at the club. He has been busy during the summer bringing in a number of experienced new faces.

Among the new arrivals were defender Joe Tyrie who joins on loan from Tonbridge Angels for the second season in a row. Another recent loanee is defender Jake Goodman who joins from Folkestone Invicta and went straight into the side against Jersey Bulls. Forward Darnell Kithambo signed from Coggleshall Town and midfielder Ayman El-Mogharbel from Bowers & Pitsea.

Other new faces include midfielders
Jean-Baptiste Fischer from Hayes & Yeading, Gabriel Piorkowski from Braintree Town along with strikers Alfie Bloomfield from Beckenham Town and Chris Harris from Bishop Stortford.

Steve McKimm has of course also been busy bringing in ten new faces to add to the nine players retained from last season as he starts to shape his new look Millers side.

His first task will be to select his opening day squad of 16 and then the starting 11. Whilst a couple of injuries may dictate things, there are still plenty of options, so it will be an interesting task.

The key to this opening game for both sides maybe how quickly the new and old faces can gel together. The Millers will certainly be hoping that they can secure the three points on opening day for the first time since winning at Bearstead in 2017. It promises to be compelling.

#COYM

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Gerry Heron
Assistants: Tony King and Adedotun Adeyemi

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Cray Valley v Sittingbourne
League
Season 2022/23 Home L 1-3 Away D 0-0
Season 2021/22 Home W 2-1 Away W 6-0
Season 2020/21 Covid Home W 2-1
Season 2019/20 Covid Away W 3-1
Played 6
Won 4
Drew 1
Lost 1

Cup
Season 2019/20 Away L 2-3 (Velocity Trophy)
Played 1
Won 0
Drew 0
Lost 1

LAST MEETING
Season 2022/23
PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SE DIV
SITTINGBOURNE 0 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 0 - 4 MAR 2023 - ATT 182
Match Report and Photos:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/teams/228820/match-centre/1-10701698/report

Full details of our previous meetings can be found at
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/a/season-202324--opponents-previous-meetings-62212.html?page=20