There is more to come from new Sittingbourne defender Michael Turner, according to manager Ryan Maxwell.

Turner produced a striker’s finish to open his Brickies account in a thrilling 3-3 Isthmian South East draw at Sheppey on Boxing Day.

The defender has had little time to work with Maxwell and his staff. Turner is naturally strong in the air - but his boss thinks there is more to his game than just that.

“Big Mike has just come in and he’s literally had one game and one training session,” Maxwell explained. “I really like him.

“There’s a real player in there. I think he’s 6ft 5in but I actually think he’s very good on the ball.

“Obviously, he wins virtually every header but there’s more to him than that.

“When we get more time with him, I think me and my staff will get even more out of him.

“But I’m very pleased with the two games he has had with us and delighted that he’s scored.”

Report: Sheppey 3-3 Sittingbourne

Maxwell: Ref is the worst I’ve seen

Striker Chris Harris was also on the scoresheet in the first half at Holm Park, as he curled in from around 20 yards for his eighth goal of the campaign.

He thought he had added a second in the dying seconds - only for his goal to be ruled out, with Maxwell not impressed by that call from referee Kane Dempster.

Maxwell, who partnered Harris up top with Mitchell May, said: “Chris is a super player.

“He put in a fantastic performance. It might have helped to have Mitchell alongside him, who’s only a young man, and recently signed a contract. The two of them are very dangerous together.

“The less Chris has to do, the more he’ll benefit, if he has someone sharing the load with him.

“I thought both of them were very good.”

May penned a deal before Christmas and looked to have sealed an impressive away win when he converted a penalty just before the hour mark.

“He’s good in those situations,” said Maxwell, who had defender Joe Tyrie red-carded for his protests after the full-time whistle. “Mitchell’s a very calm and composed finisher.

“When we have a penalty, 100 per cent, we want him to take it.”

The derby game was played in front of a crowd of 497, which included a healthy away contingent who made the short journey.

Maxwell said: “The Sittingbourne fans are unique at this level.

“I’ve never played in front of - or managed in front of - a better bunch of fans at Step 4. They’re fantastic.

“I cannot thank them enough and long may their work continue because it really does help the boys.”

Maxwell is coming up to the one-year anniversary since he took over at Woodstock. He helped the Brickies avoid relegation last term - and they are now at the right end of the table this time around.

He assessed: “I’m reasonably pleased.

“We have high standards as a management team, so we didn’t expect anything less than to be where we are.

“If I’m honest, we’re a few points shy of where we should be and it was two points dropped on Boxing Day. We have dropped two points elsewhere before but, ultimately, we came here to shake it up and be amongst it. We’re in amongst it.

“Are we where I want us to be? We’re a wee bit shy of that - but we’re not too far off.”

Next up for Sittingbourne are two matches against sides who reached the FA Cup proper, as they visit Cray Valley this Saturday and host frontrunners Ramsgate on New Year’s Day. Both teams sit in the top three.

Maxwell won’t be overawed by the occasions, though, saying: “We just take it one game at a time.

“There’s no easy games, so we will treat everyone with the same respect.

“There’s nothing daunting about it - they’re just another couple of teams to face.”

It’s a busy spell for Maxwell’s men and, while Tyrie’s suspension will not kick in until after those two games, strength-in-depth could prove critical.

Maxwell said: “We have got a couple of players on dual registration. They might have to get called back.

“But we have a strong squad and I have got boys on my bench with Step 2 experience. We will need them. It’s all about a squad. It’s not about one person.”

Sittingbourne lost 3-0 at Isthmian Premier strugglers Folkestone in a friendly last Thursday, in which ex-Brickies frontman David Smith bagged a brace.