Ryan Maxwell says Sittingbourne’s FA Cup Kent derby against Dover is the biggest match of his time as manager.

The sides meet in a first qualifying round clash at Woodstock on Saturday (3pm), with Bourne ready to go on the attack.

That will be the approach as Maxwell’s Isthmian South East high-fliers look to spring an upset against Isthmian Premier Whites.

It’s been a rough few years for Dover, with two relegations in three seasons, but they’ve made an excellent start to the new campaign under Jake Leberl, whose free-scoring side have taken 10 points in five games.

“In terms of what it means to everybody, it’s the biggest game I’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Maxwell.

“It’s FA Cup football, a Kent derby against a team in a higher league - it has to be the biggest game.

“I’m aware of the importance of it for the fans.

“They can’t wait - they’re excited.

“I’m excited as well and the players are looking forward to it.

“There’s a buzz about the club and we’re going to enjoy it.

“I understand Kent’s a massive football county and how much it means to the people of Kent.

“I’m fully invested in the derbies and what they mean.

“It adds an extra bit of spice to the games, too, and I enjoy that, so from a personal point of view I like the fact there are a number of derbies in our league but this one is the biggest one yet in the FA Cup.”

It’s 30 years since the clubs met in the FA Cup, with Sittingbourne running out 2-1 replay winners after a 1-1 draw.

That was also in the first qualifying round stage.

The Brickies know what they need to do this weekend.

“I’ve told the boys they’ve got to enjoy this,” said Maxwell.

“We’re going to leave everything out there and we’re going to go for it. We’re not looking for a replay.

“We want to entertain the fans and we want to make sure Dover have to work for anything they get.

“I believe in our squad as individuals and as a collective unit. I know we’re going to give them a game.

“Dover are in great form, scoring lots of goals and they’re going to be dangerous. It’s going to be a hard, hard game.

“They’re favourites and rightly so - they were two leagues above us last year - so a huge effort will be required.

“We’re willing to do whatever it takes to cause an upset.”

Sittingbourne took three points from two games over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Troy Howard and Mitchell May struck as the Brickies came from a goal down to lead 2-1 at Ramsgate on Saturday.

But the visitors conceded twice in four minutes at the start of the second half and went on to lose 4-2.

“I was disappointed in our approach to the start of the game,” said Maxwell. “We made silly errors that led to a goal.

“We got to grips with it, scored two good goals, controlled the game for a good 25 minutes and played some fantastic football.

“It looked like there was only going to be one winner - and then the half-time whistle came.

“We were disjointed for some reason at the start of the second half, just not fully focused, and out of nowhere we were 3-2 down.

“The plan we had in terms of subs went out of the window and for as good as we were, it’s as bad as we’ve been as well.”

Sittingbourne bounced back with a 3-1 home win against Ashford on Monday.

Substitutes Troy Howard, leading scorer May and Jay Beckford all struck as the Brickies overturned a half-time deficit.

Maxwell said: “We went a goal down after starting the game extremely well and you could have thought, ‘oh no, not this again’ but the players stuck to the task and kept doing what was working beforehand.

“We came in still 1-0 down but played some great football, real controlled football.

“We continued all the way through the second half and were very good value for the win.

“It’s very pleasing that the three subs all came on and scored.

“I was asked a few questions about why I wasn’t starting Mitch because he’s our top scorer.

“He ran his socks off at Ramsgate, and has been playing 90 minutes, and we had Ryan Kingsford chomping at the bit to play.

“I said to Mitch you will come on and score today, maybe even the winner, and he came on and made it 2-1.

“A fresh Mitchell May coming on is a danger and so it proved.”