by Jack Wilson

Winning cups is no easy feat. Retaining them is even harder.

That’s the task facing Gary Abbott, though, and his Sittingbourne side got off to the best possible start with a 2-0 Kent Senior Cup win over Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday night.

In a repeat of last year’s final, where Bourne were 3-1 victors, Abbott’s men triumphed at Cheriton Road, leaving Abbott a happy man.

He said: “We worked so hard to win the trophy last year and we don’t want to let it go.

“We had to beat some quality sides in higher divisions than ourselves to win it, now we want to retain it."

However, it is back to league action on Saturday for Abbott and his men as they host Corinthian-Casuals at Bourne Park.

The Casuals are just a place above the drop-zone in Ryman League Division 1 South and are sure to provide a different test for Bourne.

“We can’t take them for granted,” Abbott said.

“They can spring a shock and they showed that when they beat Leatherhead.

“If you want to be in the play-offs, you’ve got to beat sides like them.”

Abbott has a fully fit squad to choose from for the clash with the Casuals