Sittingbourne are enjoying their best season in years but manager Darren Blackburn is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

Seventh-placed Brickies are only four points off the Isthmian South East play-offs at Christmas after their Ahmed Abdulla-inspired 3-1 victory over Whitehawk on Saturday.

Midfielder Abdulla scored twice - including a stunning strike from the halfway line - having also laid on the opening goal for Harrison Pont as Blackburn’s side made it three wins and a draw from their last four games.

The Christmas programme sees them visit Swale rivals Faversham on Monday before hosting Sevenoaks on New Year’s Day.

Sittingbourne are in good shape, even with the blow of losing new signing Alex Flisher to a shoulder injury, but Blackburn knows things can change quickly.

“I keep waiting for the bubble to burst!” said Blackburn. “That’s the pessimist in me.

“I had a baptism of fire in management at Hollands & Blair.

“After a good couple of results we lost eight on the bounce or whatever it was and, if anything, that experience has stood me in good stead because I’m desperate to get three points now.

“Whereas before, it was nice, I’m now throwing the kitchen sink at it, defensively or offensively, to get something out of every game.

“What we’re trying to do is keep the lads looking up and to keep that belief, the hunger, that desire, and then who knows what will happen?

“But our feet are firmly on the ground because we know in this league that just as you could go 10 unbeaten, you could easily go 10 without a win.”

Illness - although he tested negative for Covid - left Sittingbourne without Duane Ofori-Acheampong against Whitehawk but they found a way to win without their five-goal loanee.

Abdulla saw to that against his former club with a pair of goal-of-the-season contenders, including that long-range special.

“We’d noticed the keeper was off his line a lot in the first half,” said Blackburn.

“Kane Rowland had a go five minutes or so before Abs and hit the post and I think that planted the seed.

“You could see what Abs was going to do after his first touch and it was a great strike.

“For someone who strikes the ball like he does, he probably doesn’t let fly often enough.

“It was against his old club and while I’m not fully aware of the reasons why they let him go, we’re more than happy to have him.

“It was a great goal but, for me, his second from the edge of the box is equally good.

“It was like the three he scored against Lancing on the first day of the season.

“He’s got bags of ability. He’d be the first to admit he probably wasn’t as fit as he’d have liked at the start but he’s got the bit between his teeth and one thing you could never question is his quality.

“He’ll try things that might not always come off but that’s part and parcel with creative players.”

Blackburn is keeping his fingers crossed that Flisher makes a swift return from his shoulder injury.

The Brickies are still missing injured duo Toby Ajala and Danny Taylor while work commitments have restricted Luke Girt’s involvement.

“Flish popped his shoulder,” said Blackburn. “We’ll support him the best way we can and hope he’s not out too long.

“He recovers quickly. It might even be a case of him taking painkillers and taping the shoulder up.”

Sittingbourne are looking to do the double over Faversham following a 3-1 home victory over James Collins’ side in August.

“They don’t come much bigger than the Faversham v Sittingbourne local derby for us,” said Blackburn.

“I know James, he approaches every game the right way and I’m sure both sides will be well-prepared.

“We’ve got to try and keep the lads calm and professional and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”