Ryan Maxwell says Sittingbourne’s history-making FA Trophy run is a gift to the club.

The Brickies are through to round three for the first time after beating higher-league Winchester on penalties on Saturday.

They won 5-4 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw.

Their reward is a home tie against National League South outfit Enfield Town on Saturday, December 7.

The chance to make history was on boss Maxwell’s mind as Sittingbourne boarded the coach to Hampshire where they were backed by 120 travelling fans.

“It’s more a gift to the club than anything else,” said Maxwell. “It doesn’t affect me personally but to give the club something, I was determined to try and do it.

“I woke up on Saturday morning very focused on the game and keen to get a result, and the support we had was tremendous.

“There were 460 people there and 120 were from Sittingbourne.

“It felt like a home game, it really did. They were instrumental in our performance.

“It wasn’t round the corner. Times are tough at the moment and it’s not cheap to follow your team, regardless, but to follow them to Winchester couldn’t have been cheap.

“I emphasised that to the players before the game.

“I said they’ve taken their time to be here but it’s the money they’re paying as well.

“When you come off, make sure you’ve given them their money’s worth and we’ve given absolutely everything, no matter what the score is.

“I need a performance everyone’s proud of and they gave us that.”

Sittingbourne trailed to a fortuitous Luka Chalwell goal a minute before half-time.

They dominated the second half, forcing a series of fine saves, before Mitchell May levelled from the spot on 81 minutes.

May was dismissed soon after, along with the hosts’ Dan Bradshaw and Jamie Barron, and the tie went the distance.

Winchester missed their first kick, with Liam Smith, Troy Howard, Ryan Kingsford, Donvieve Jones and Joe Boachie all successful for Sittingbourne.

The Brickies were the sole Kent team to make it through, with the likes of Maidstone, Tonbridge and Folkestone all falling.

Ebbsfleet, who join the competition in round three, are the only other representatives from the county.

“We were the better side by a very small margin in the first half,” said Maxwell.

“We got behind them a number of times but didn’t make it count and they got a fortuitous goal from a deflection that landed in the player’s path.

“It changed my team-talk a little but because we had to score at least once to take it to penalties or twice to win.

“We knew if we showed some composure in possession, we’d get better, and we did.

“We dominated the second half.

“They hit the bar once from outside the box but we’ve hit the post twice, the bar once and the keeper’s made three great saves and four saves in total.

“Mitchell May scores the penalty and a few moments later it’s 10 v 9 and we’re pushing for the winner.

“It went to penalties but we’d practised penalties at training on Thursday night.

“We didn’t have Mitchell May, who would have gone first, but Liam Smith stepped up, as a true captain does, and the penalties were all fantastic.

“To be one of two Kent clubs left, I’m very proud, and hopefully we can get through at least another round.”

Sittingbourne were considering an appeal against May’s dismissal, with the striker adamant he hadn’t made contact with his opponent.

“I’ve got to trust my players and he told me hasn’t touched the player at all,” said Maxwell.

“The referee said he touched his face but he didn’t and if that shows on the footage I’m sure it’ll get overturned.”

Sittingbourne, third in Isthmian South after six successive victories, return to league action at home to Sevenoaks this Saturday (3pm).

The Brickies boast a 100% record at Woodstock, with eight successive wins producing 35 goals with only two conceded.

Maxwell’s men visit Littlehampton on Tuesday (7.45pm).