Three successive defeats for Sittingbourne leaves them struggling to keep up with the Isthmian South East play-off hopefuls - but the fight goes on.

The Brickies lost 2-1 to second-placed Cray Valley just a week after losing by the same scoreline to leaders Hastings United. They face Haywards Heath at home this Saturday - the team currently occupying the final play-off place.

With the management team already having one eye on next season, this weekend’s game looks set to be crucial in determining whether they have a hope of making it into the top five come the end of the season. There are 10 games left.

Assistant boss Darren Pont said: “If we can get on a bit of a run, win two or three games, then you never know. If we win on Saturday, it could all change.

“Looking at the budgets and the experience of the other sides if we did make the play-offs we would probably have overachieved. We have to be realistic and know where this group are, they are a young side, but we are not giving up.”

Saturday’s visitors Haywards Heath are nine points ahead of the Brickies.

Pont said: “We would love to win our next 10 games, we will try and get as many points and see where it takes us. We are making progress and with the young group, if we can keep it together then the more games they play the more experience they will get and it will put them in good stead for next season.

“They are a good group, the average age of the back line is 21-22, they have done really well as a group, conceding hasn’t been a problem, it is just scoring them at the other end.

“We don’t have money to chuck around for experienced players but we have players who are local-ish, love the club, the dressing room is good and it is a good group.”

Pont believes a bit of naivety has cost them in recent games against those leading sides. Marcel Barrington put Cray ahead after 15 minutes on Saturday but they conceded a crucial second just before the break after losing possession. Anthony Edgar made them pay.

Lex Allan pulled one back after the break, but the Brickies couldn’t get back on level terms.

“The second goal kills us,” said the no.2. “An experienced head might have just cleared it, we tried to play it out from the back, lost the ball in midfield and there was a turnover in play and Edgar whipped one into the bottom corner. Going in 1-0 we would have taken, against really strong wind, 2-0 down was a big ask.

“We had some words at half-time and re-organised. Second half they did what we asked, didn’t give them much room, we were in the ascendency, had a real good go and were probably the better side second half.

“Harry Stannard went on and got some crosses in and Lex heads one in, he scored a great goal but missed one that was probably easier, going over the bar. They were hanging on at the end and they were just glad to get it over.

“Second-half performance we were pleased and we just need to start like that.”

The Brickies had to call on the brother of midfielder Danny Taylor to play in goal after Harry Brooks was out injured, suffering a foot injury the week before. Charlie Taylor impressed during his cameo appearance.

“He did well, he made a couple of really good saves and is a good talker,” said Pont. Brooks could make a return this weekend.