Facing a hectic schedule in Ryman League Division 1 South between now and the end of the month, Sittingbourne manager Gary Abbott believes his side achieved just the result they needed with Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Whitstable.

The Brickies had suffered their first reverse in four matches with Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Croydon and Abbott said: "It was important we bounced back quickly from that defeat, especially as we have got such a heavy programme coming up."

Sittingbourne were due to face Chipstead at home on Thursday and are in action again at Bourne Park on Saturday in a clash with league leaders Folkestone Invicta.

Then, next week, they have another three-match schedule.

Abbott (pictured) said: "There’s going to be a lot of pressure on us but I have always said that players prefer to play rather than train, and it certainly helps when you are winning because the adrenaline keeps you going."

Defender Joe Dowland missed Tuesday's game after suffering a calf strain at Croydon on Saturday, with Billy Manners coming in as replacement but Abbott expected Dowland to be fit to return against Chipstead.

He said: "First we’ll get the Chipstead game out of the way and then we’ll start thinking about Folkestone but it should be a cracking game."